What books are similar to The Witch of Blackbird Pond?

The 10 closest matches to The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare on ReadingList include Number the Stars, Maniac Magee, The Graveyard Book, Bridge to Terabithia, and A Single Shard. Each is scored on shared themes (tolerance, colonial Puritan society, and friendship), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 5–8), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.

Are books like The Witch of Blackbird Pond reading-level appropriate?

Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 5–8), 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 Witch of Blackbird Pond

If you liked The Witch of Blackbird Pond, read Number the Stars, Maniac Magee, or The Graveyard Book — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

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 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 5–8 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 Audible30-day trial

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.

Number the Stars670L: Shares themes of friendship, both on the Newbery Medal list (+1 more shared list), and same genre (Historical Fiction (Middle Grade)). Amazon →
Maniac Magee820L: Shares themes of prejudice, both on the Newbery Medal list (+1 more shared list), and a close reading level (820L vs 850L). Amazon →
The Graveyard Book820L: Shares themes of coming of age, both on the Newbery Medal list (+1 more shared list), and a close reading level (820L vs 850L). Amazon →
Bridge to Terabithia810L: Shares themes of friendship, both on the Newbery Medal list (+1 more shared list), and a close reading level (810L vs 850L). Amazon →
A Single Shard920L: Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Historical Fiction (Middle Grade)), and a close reading level (920L vs 850L). Amazon →
Walk Two Moons770L: Shares themes of friendship, both on the Newbery Medal list (+1 more shared list), and a close reading level (770L vs 850L). Amazon →
The Giver760L: Shares themes of coming of age, both on the Newbery Medal list (+1 more shared list), and a close reading level (760L vs 850L). Amazon →
When You Reach Me750L: Shares themes of friendship, both on the Newbery Medal list (+1 more shared list), and a close reading level (750L vs 850L). Amazon →
Island of the Blue Dolphins1000L: Both on the Newbery Medal list (+1 more shared list), same genre (Historical Fiction (Middle Grade)), and a close reading level (1000L vs 850L). Amazon →
James and the Giant Peach870L: Shares themes of friendship, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and a close reading level (870L vs 850L). Amazon →

Books like The Witch of Blackbird Pond for younger readers (K–2)

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

The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary · 860L — Shares themes of friendship and coming of age, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and a close reading level (860L vs 850L).
The Adventures of Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey · 720L — Shares themes of friendship and a close reading level (720L vs 850L).
Corduroy by Don Freeman · 600L — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and a close reading level (600L vs 850L).
Ivy and Bean by Annie Barrows · 580L — Shares themes of friendship and both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list.
The 13-Story Treehouse by Andy Griffiths · 560L — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and overlapping grades (2–5).

Books like The Witch of Blackbird Pond for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary · 860L — Shares themes of friendship and coming of age, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and a close reading level (860L vs 850L).
Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet by Zanib Mian · 820L — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and a close reading level (820L vs 850L).
Wonder by R.J. Palacio · 790L — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and a close reading level (790L vs 850L).
Rebound by Kwame Alexander · 780L — Shares themes of coming of age, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and a close reading level (780L vs 850L).
Stuart Little by E.B. White · 920L — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and a close reading level (920L vs 850L).

Books like The Witch of Blackbird Pond for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee · 870L — Shares themes of coming of age, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and a close reading level (870L vs 850L).
Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet by Zanib Mian · 820L — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and a close reading level (820L vs 850L).
Wonder by R.J. Palacio · 790L — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and a close reading level (790L vs 850L).
Rebound by Kwame Alexander · 780L — Shares themes of coming of age, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and a close reading level (780L vs 850L).
Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly · 690L — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Newbery Medal list (+1 more shared list), and a close reading level (690L vs 850L).

Books like The Witch of Blackbird Pond for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky · 720L — Shares themes of friendship and coming of age and a close reading level (720L vs 850L).
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini · 840L — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and a close reading level (840L vs 850L).
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee · 870L — Shares themes of coming of age, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and a close reading level (870L vs 850L).
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green · 850L — Shares themes of coming of age and a close reading level (850L vs 850L).
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd · 840L — Shares themes of coming of age and a close reading level (840L vs 850L).

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

← Back to The Witch of Blackbird Pond