What books are similar to The Thing About Leftovers?

The 10 closest matches to The Thing About Leftovers by C.C. Payne on ReadingList include Stuck in Neutral, So B. It, Surviving the Applewhites, A Boy Called Bat, and Crenshaw. Each is scored on shared themes (divorce, family, and belonging), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 4–7), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.

Are books like The Thing About Leftovers reading-level appropriate?

Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 4–7), so the picks stay grade-appropriate. See how ReadingList judges text difficulty on the /standard methodology page.

How does ReadingList choose similar books?

Matches are ranked by shared themes, shared award and reading-program lists (two books picked for the same state award were chosen by the same committees for the same readers), same genre, comparable Lexile and grade band, and publication decade — computed from cited public curriculum data, not editorial opinion or AI-generated summaries.

Books like The Thing About Leftovers

If you liked The Thing About Leftovers, read Stuck in Neutral, So B. It, or Surviving the Applewhites — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Looking for books like The Thing About Leftovers by C.C. Payne (Realistic Fiction · grades 4–7)? It’s most often read for its themes of divorce, family, and belonging. The 10 titles below are the closest matches in the ReadingList database — each scored on shared themes, shared award lists, genre, and reading level, and each linked to the curricula, states, and grades where it’s assigned, with primary sources.

These are reading-level matches, not just topical ones — so the picks stay grade-appropriate for a grades 4–7 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

Reading the whole similar-books list? Kids who struggle with the print versions often finish the assigned books by listening.

Listen free on Audiblestarts instantly

New members only · many assigned titles are included with the membership. As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases and membership trials at no extra cost to you.

Try it on audio — free. Kids who struggle with the print versions often finish the assigned books by listening.

Listen free on Audiblestarts instantly

New members only · many assigned titles are included with the membership. As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases and membership trials at no extra cost to you.

Why each is a match

Amazon links below are affiliate links — as an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

Stuck in Neutralgrades 7–10: Shares themes of family, both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
So B. Itgrades 5–8: Shares themes of family, both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Surviving the Applewhitesgrades 5–8: Shares themes of family, both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
A Boy Called Batgrades 3–5: Shares themes of family, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon → books like this →
Crenshawgrades 3–6: Shares themes of family, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →
Drums, Girls & Dangerous Piegrades 6–9: Shares themes of family, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (6–9). Amazon → books like this →
Front Desk640L: Shares themes of family, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
Ghost Boys360L: Shares themes of family, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon → books like this →
Mick Harte Was Heregrades 5–8: Shares themes of family, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (5–8). Amazon → books like this →
Other Words for Home930L: Shares themes of family and belonging and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon → books like this →

Books like The Thing About Leftovers for younger readers (K–2)

Closest matches whose grade range overlaps K–2— same scoring, different audience.

Ida B. and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World by Katherine Hannigan · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of family, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8).
The One and Only Ruby by Katherine Applegate · grades 2–5 — Shares themes of family and belonging and overlapping grades (2–5).
Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (2–8), and the same era (2010s).
Here Comes the Garbage Barge by Jonah Winter · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (2–8), and the same era (2010s).
I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912 by Lauren Tarshis · 590L — Shares themes of family and overlapping grades (2–5).

Books like The Thing About Leftovers for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

Closest matches whose grade range overlaps 3–5— same scoring, different audience.

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart · grades 5–8 — Shares themes of family, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (5–8).
The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser · grades 3–6 — Shares themes of family, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6).
A Corner of the Universe by Ann M. Martin · grades 5–8 — Shares themes of family, both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award list, and overlapping grades (5–8).
All About Sam by Lois Lowry · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of family, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
Attaboy, Sam! by Lois Lowry · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of family, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).

Books like The Thing About Leftovers for middle school (grades 6–8)

Closest matches whose grade range overlaps 6–8— same scoring, different audience.

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart · grades 5–8 — Shares themes of family, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (5–8).
The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser · grades 3–6 — Shares themes of family, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6).
A Corner of the Universe by Ann M. Martin · grades 5–8 — Shares themes of family, both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award list, and overlapping grades (5–8).
All About Sam by Lois Lowry · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of family, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
Attaboy, Sam! by Lois Lowry · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of family, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).

Books like The Thing About Leftovers for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

Closest matches whose grade range overlaps 9–12— same scoring, different audience.

Forged by Fire by Sharon M. Draper · grades 7–10 — Shares themes of family, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (7–10).
Ruby Lost and Found by Christina Li · grades 6–9 — Shares themes of family, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (6–9).
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares · grades 7–10 — Shares themes of family, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (7–10).
The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman by Gennifer Choldenko · grades 6–9 — Shares themes of family, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (6–9).
Barber Shop Chronicles by Inua Ellams · grades 11–12 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and the same era (2010s).

Common questions

What books are similar to The Thing About Leftovers?: The 10 closest matches to The Thing About Leftovers by C.C. Payne on ReadingList include Stuck in Neutral, So B. It, Surviving the Applewhites, A Boy Called Bat, and Crenshaw. Each is scored on shared themes (divorce, family, and belonging), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 4–7), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like The Thing About Leftovers reading-level appropriate?: Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 4–7), so the picks stay grade-appropriate. See how ReadingList judges text difficulty on the /standard methodology page.
How does ReadingList choose similar books?: Matches are ranked by shared themes, shared award and reading-program lists (two books picked for the same state award were chosen by the same committees for the same readers), same genre, comparable Lexile and grade band, and publication decade — computed from cited public curriculum data, not editorial opinion or AI-generated summaries.

Book data last updated 2026-09-05. Matches are computed from each book’s cited attributes — see the methodology.

← Back to The Thing About Leftovers