Books like Ties That Bind, Ties That Break

If you liked Ties That Bind, Ties That Break, read Armageddon Summer, Bad, or Breaking Boxes — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Looking for books like Ties That Bind, Ties That Break by Lensey Namioka (Realistic Fiction · grades 9–12)? It’s most often read for its themes of china, footbinding, and history. 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 9–12 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Ties That Bind, Ties That Break

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Why each is a match

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Armageddon Summergrades 9–12
Shares themes of history, both on the California Young Reader Medal list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Badgrades 9–12
Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
Breaking Boxesgrades 9–12
Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
Ironmangrades 9–12
Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
Shadow of the Dragongrades 9–12
Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
Stargirlgrades 6–9
Shares themes of individuality, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (6–9). Amazon → books like this →
Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnesgrades 9–12
Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
The Only Alien on the Planetgrades 9–12
Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
The Silver Kissgrades 9–12
Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
We All Fall Downgrades 9–12
Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Ties That Bind, Ties That Break for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • Don't Fidget a Feather! by Erica Silverman · grades K–3 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1990s).
  • Grandpa's Teeth by Rod Clement · grades K–3 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1990s).
  • Here Comes the Garbage Barge by Jonah Winter · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of history and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
  • High-Wire Henry by Mary Calhoun · grades K–3 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1990s).
  • Julius, the Baby of the World by Kevin Henkes · grades K–3 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1990s).

Books like Ties That Bind, Ties That Break for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • Boy at War by Harry Mazer · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of history and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
  • Don't Fidget a Feather! by Erica Silverman · grades K–3 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1990s).
  • Grandpa's Teeth by Rod Clement · grades K–3 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1990s).
  • Here Comes the Garbage Barge by Jonah Winter · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of history and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
  • High-Wire Henry by Mary Calhoun · grades K–3 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1990s).

Books like Ties That Bind, Ties That Break for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • Boy at War by Harry Mazer · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of history and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
  • Here Comes the Garbage Barge by Jonah Winter · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of history and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
  • Jake and Lily by Jerry Spinelli · grades 3–6 — Shares themes of individuality and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
  • Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key by Jack Gantos · grades 6–8 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1990s).
  • Prisoner B-3087 by Alan Gratz · grades 3–8 — Shares themes of history and same genre (Realistic Fiction).

Books like Ties That Bind, Ties That Break for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • A Sudden Silence by Eve Bunting · grades 9–12 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12).
  • A Summer to Die by Lois Lowry · grades 9–12 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12).
  • After by Francine Prose · grades 9–12 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12).
  • Define "Normal" by Julie Anne Peters · grades 9–12 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12).
  • I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys · grades 9–12 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12).

Common questions

What books are similar to Ties That Bind, Ties That Break?
The 10 closest matches to Ties That Bind, Ties That Break by Lensey Namioka on ReadingList include Armageddon Summer, Bad, Breaking Boxes, Ironman, and Shadow of the Dragon. Each is scored on shared themes (china, footbinding, and history), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 9–12), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like Ties That Bind, Ties That Break reading-level appropriate?
Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 9–12), 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.

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