Books like Thirteen Ways to Sink a Sub

If you liked Thirteen Ways to Sink a Sub, read Do Bananas Chew Gum?, Hail, Hail, Camp Timberwood, or A Dog's Life — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like Thirteen Ways to Sink a Sub by Jamie Gilson (Children's · grades 4–7)? 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.

10 books similar to Thirteen Ways to Sink a Sub

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.

Do Bananas Chew Gum?grades 4–6
Is by Jamie Gilson, the same author, overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (1980s). Amazon → books like this →
Hail, Hail, Camp Timberwoodgrades 4–7
Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon → books like this →
A Dog's Lifegrades 4–6
Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
A Mouse Called Wolfgrades 4–6
Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
Blackwater Swampgrades 4–6
Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery and Howliday Inn EBOOKgrades 4–7
Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon → books like this →
By the Shores of Silver Lakegrades 4–7
Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon → books like this →
Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Banggrades 4–7
Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon → books like this →
Danny Dunn and the Homework Machinegrades 4–7
Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon → books like this →
Danny Dunn on the Ocean Floorgrades 4–7
Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Thirteen Ways to Sink a Sub for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams · grades K–5 — Same genre (Children's), overlapping grades (K–5), and the same era (1980s).
  • A Visit to William Blake's Inn by Nancy Willard · grades K–5 — Same genre (Children's), overlapping grades (K–5), and the same era (1980s).
  • Alphabatics by Suse MacDonald · grades K–5 — Same genre (Children's), overlapping grades (K–5), and the same era (1980s).
  • Mama Don't Allow 25th Anniversary Edition by Thacher Hurd · grades K–5 — Same genre (Children's), overlapping grades (K–5), and the same era (1980s).
  • Outside Over There by Maurice Sendak · grades K–5 — Same genre (Children's), overlapping grades (K–5), and the same era (1980s).

Books like Thirteen Ways to Sink a Sub for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney · grades 4–6 — Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Driver's Ed by Caroline B. Cooney · grades 4–6 — Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Encyclopedia Brown Keeps the Peace by Donald J. Sobol · grades 4–7 — Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–7).
  • Henry and the Paper Route by Beverly Cleary · grades 4–7 — Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–7).
  • Henry Huggins by Beverly Cleary · grades 4–7 — Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–7).

Books like Thirteen Ways to Sink a Sub for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney · grades 4–6 — Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Driver's Ed by Caroline B. Cooney · grades 4–6 — Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Encyclopedia Brown Keeps the Peace by Donald J. Sobol · grades 4–7 — Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–7).
  • Henry and the Paper Route by Beverly Cleary · grades 4–7 — Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–7).
  • Henry Huggins by Beverly Cleary · grades 4–7 — Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–7).

Books like Thirteen Ways to Sink a Sub for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • Eva by Peter Dickinson · grades 9–12 — Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, same genre (Children's), and the same era (1980s).
  • A Hat Full of Sky by Terry Pratchett · grades 9–12 — Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list and same genre (Children's).
  • City of Bones by Cassandra Clare · grades 9–12 — Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list and same genre (Children's).
  • Crazy by Han Nolan · grades 9–12 — Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list and same genre (Children's).
  • Fat Kid Rules The World by K L Going · grades 9–12 — Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list and same genre (Children's).

Common questions

What books are similar to Thirteen Ways to Sink a Sub?
The 10 closest matches to Thirteen Ways to Sink a Sub by Jamie Gilson on ReadingList include Do Bananas Chew Gum?, Hail, Hail, Camp Timberwood, A Dog's Life, A Mouse Called Wolf, and Blackwater Swamp. Each is scored on shared themes, 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 Thirteen Ways to Sink a Sub 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 Thirteen Ways to Sink a Sub

Browse by another angle