Books like The Unwanteds

If you liked The Unwanteds, read A Million Ways Home, Blended, or Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann? 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 4–6 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to The Unwanteds

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Why each is a match

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A Million Ways Homegrades 4–6
Both on the Mark Twain Readers Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Blended610L
Both on the Mark Twain Readers Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (3–7), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Librarygrades 4–6
Both on the California Young Reader Medal list (+2 more shared lists), overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
One for Sorrowgrades 4–6
Both on the Mark Twain Readers Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Out of My Mind700L
Both on the California Young Reader Medal list (+3 more shared lists), overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Restart730L
Both on the California Young Reader Medal list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (5–8), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Runaway Twingrades 4–6
Both on the Mark Twain Readers Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
The War That Saved My Life580L
Both on the California Young Reader Medal list (+3 more shared lists), overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
White Birdgrades 4–6
Both on the Mark Twain Readers Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Wonder790L
Both on the California Young Reader Medal list (+2 more shared lists), overlapping grades (3–7), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →

Books like The Unwanteds for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix · grades 5–8 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (5–8).
  • Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo · 610L — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list (+3 more shared lists) and overlapping grades (3–5).
  • Deep and Dark and Dangerous by Mary Downing Hahn · grades 4–6 — Both on the Mark Twain Readers Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Millionaires for the Month by Stacy McAnulty · grades 4–6 — Both on the Mark Twain Readers Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor · 890L — Both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (3–6).

Books like The Unwanteds for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix · grades 5–8 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (5–8).
  • Deep and Dark and Dangerous by Mary Downing Hahn · grades 4–6 — Both on the Mark Twain Readers Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Millionaires for the Month by Stacy McAnulty · grades 4–6 — Both on the Mark Twain Readers Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor · 890L — Both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (3–6).
  • Six Feet Below Zero by Ena Jones · grades 4–6 — Both on the Mark Twain Readers Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (4–6).

Books like The Unwanteds for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins · 810L — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (6–9).
  • Divergent by Veronica Roth · grades 8–12 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list and the same era (2010s).
  • Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt · grades 7–10 — Both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list and the same era (2010s).
  • Posted by John David Anderson · grades 6–9 — Both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list, overlapping grades (6–9), and the same era (2010s).
  • Refugee by Alan Gratz · 800L — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, overlapping grades (5–9), and the same era (2010s).

Book data last updated 2026-07-07. Matches are computed from each book’s cited attributes — see the methodology.

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