What books are similar to Toning the Sweep?

The 10 closest matches to Toning the Sweep by Angela Johnson on ReadingList include The First Part Last, I Dream of Trains, Monster, Speak, and American Born Chinese. Each is scored on shared themes, shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 4–8), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.

Are books like Toning the Sweep reading-level appropriate?

Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 4–8), 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 Toning the Sweep

If you liked Toning the Sweep, read The First Part Last, I Dream of Trains, or Monster — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like Toning the Sweep by Angela Johnson (Young Adult Fiction · grades 4–8)? 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 4–8 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

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Why each is a match

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The First Part Lastgrades 4–8: Is by Angela Johnson, the same author, both on the Coretta Scott King Author Award list, and same genre (Young Adult Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
I Dream of Trainsgrades K–5: Is by Angela Johnson, the same author and overlapping grades (K–5). Amazon → books like this →
Monster670L: Same genre (Young Adult Fiction), overlapping grades (8–11), and the same era (1990s). Amazon → books like this →
Speak690L: Same genre (Young Adult Fiction), overlapping grades (8–10), and the same era (1990s). Amazon → books like this →
American Born Chinese530L: Same genre (Young Adult Fiction) and overlapping grades (7–12). Amazon → books like this →
Bud, Not Buddy950L: Both on the Coretta Scott King Author Award list, overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (1990s). Amazon → books like this →
Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quartersgrades 4–8: Both on the Coretta Scott King Author Award list, overlapping grades (4–8), and the same era (1990s). Amazon → books like this →
Ender's Game780L: Same genre (Young Adult Fiction) and overlapping grades (6–10). Amazon → books like this →
Everything We Never Hadgrades 7–12: Same genre (Young Adult Fiction) and overlapping grades (7–12). Amazon → books like this →
Heavengrades 4–8: Both on the Coretta Scott King Author Award list, overlapping grades (4–8), and the same era (1990s). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Toning the Sweep for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

Her Stories by Virginia Hamilton · grades 4–8 — Both on the Coretta Scott King Author Award list, overlapping grades (4–8), and the same era (1990s).
Now Is Your Time by Walter Dean Myers · grades 4–8 — Both on the Coretta Scott King Author Award list, overlapping grades (4–8), and the same era (1990s).
Slam by Walter Dean Myers · grades 4–8 — Both on the Coretta Scott King Author Award list, overlapping grades (4–8), and the same era (1990s).
The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare · grades 3–7 — Same genre (YOUNG ADULT FICTION) and overlapping grades (3–7).
The Dark-Thirty by Patricia McKissack · grades 4–8 — Both on the Coretta Scott King Author Award list, overlapping grades (4–8), and the same era (1990s).

Books like Toning the Sweep for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

Her Stories by Virginia Hamilton · grades 4–8 — Both on the Coretta Scott King Author Award list, overlapping grades (4–8), and the same era (1990s).
Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds · 720L — Same genre (Young Adult Fiction) and overlapping grades (7–12).
Never Thought I'd End Up Here by Ann Liang · grades 7–12 — Same genre (Young Adult Fiction) and overlapping grades (7–12).
Now Is Your Time by Walter Dean Myers · grades 4–8 — Both on the Coretta Scott King Author Award list, overlapping grades (4–8), and the same era (1990s).
Sky's End by Marc J. Gregson · grades 7–12 — Same genre (Young Adult Fiction) and overlapping grades (7–12).

Books like Toning the Sweep 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 — Same genre (Young Adult Fiction) and the same era (1990s).
Artifice by Sharon Cameron · grades 9–12 — Same genre (Young Adult Fiction).
Bittersweet in the Hollow by Kate Pearsall · grades 9–12 — Same genre (Young Adult Fiction).
Chaos Theory by Nic Stone · grades 9–12 — Same genre (Young Adult Fiction).
Come Home Safe by Brian G. Buckmire · grades 9–12 — Same genre (Young Adult Fiction).

Common questions

What books are similar to Toning the Sweep?: The 10 closest matches to Toning the Sweep by Angela Johnson on ReadingList include The First Part Last, I Dream of Trains, Monster, Speak, and American Born Chinese. Each is scored on shared themes, shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 4–8), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like Toning the Sweep reading-level appropriate?: Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 4–8), 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.

Book data last updated 2026-09-05. Matches are computed from each book’s cited attributes — see the methodology.

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