Books like The Witch of Blackbird Pond

Looking for books like The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare (Historical Fiction (Middle Grade) · 850L · grades 5–8)? It’s most often read for its themes of tolerance, colonial Puritan society, and friendship. The 10 titlesbelow are the closest matches in the ReadingList database — each scored on shared themes, 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 5–8 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to The Witch of Blackbird Pond

Why each is a match

Number the Stars670L
Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Historical Fiction (Middle Grade)), and a close reading level (670L vs 850L).
James and the Giant Peach870L
Shares themes of friendship and a close reading level (870L vs 850L).
To Kill a Mockingbird870L
Shares themes of coming of age and a close reading level (870L vs 850L).
Maniac Magee820L
Shares themes of prejudice and a close reading level (820L vs 850L).
The Graveyard Book820L
Shares themes of coming of age and a close reading level (820L vs 850L).
Bridge to Terabithia810L
Shares themes of friendship and a close reading level (810L vs 850L).
The Poet X800L
Shares themes of coming of age and a close reading level (800L vs 850L).
Flowers for Algernon910L
Shares themes of friendship and a close reading level (910L vs 850L).
Wonder790L
Shares themes of friendship and a close reading level (790L vs 850L).
A Single Shard920L
Same genre (Historical Fiction (Middle Grade)) and a close reading level (920L vs 850L).

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