Books like White Bird

If you liked White Bird, read 11 Birthdays, A Million Ways Home, or A Night Divided — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like White Bird by R.J. Palacio? 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 4–6 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to White Bird

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Why each is a match

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11 Birthdaysgrades 3–5
Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (3–5), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
A Million Ways Homegrades 4–6
Both on the Mark Twain Readers Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
A Night Dividedgrades 5–8
Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (5–8), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Blended610L
Both on the Mark Twain Readers Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (3–7), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
El Deafo420L
Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Librarygrades 4–6
Both on the Mark Twain Readers Award list (+3 more shared lists), overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
One for Sorrowgrades 4–6
Both on the Mark Twain Readers Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Out of My Mind700L
Both on the Mark Twain Readers Award list (+3 more shared lists), overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Restart730L
Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (5–8), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Runaway Twingrades 4–6
Both on the Mark Twain Readers Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →

Books like White Bird for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann · grades 4–6 — Both on the Mark Twain Readers Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2010s).
  • The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley · 580L — Both on the Mark Twain Readers Award list (+2 more shared lists), overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2010s).
  • Wonder by R.J. Palacio · 790L — Both on the Mark Twain Readers Award list (+2 more shared lists), overlapping grades (3–7), and the same era (2010s).
  • Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo · 610L — Both on the Mark Twain Readers Award list (+2 more shared lists) and overlapping grades (3–5).
  • Deep and Dark and Dangerous by Mary Downing Hahn · grades 4–6 — Both on the Mark Twain Readers Award list (+2 more shared lists) and overlapping grades (4–6).

Books like White Bird for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann · grades 4–6 — Both on the Mark Twain Readers Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2010s).
  • The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley · 580L — Both on the Mark Twain Readers Award list (+2 more shared lists), overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2010s).
  • Wonder by R.J. Palacio · 790L — Both on the Mark Twain Readers Award list (+2 more shared lists), overlapping grades (3–7), and the same era (2010s).
  • Deep and Dark and Dangerous by Mary Downing Hahn · grades 4–6 — Both on the Mark Twain Readers Award list (+2 more shared lists) and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Holes by Louis Sachar · 660L — Both on the Mark Twain Readers Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (4–7).

Books like White Bird for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • Allies by Alan Gratz · grades 5–9 — Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, overlapping grades (5–9), and the same era (2010s).
  • Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick · grades 6–9 — Both on the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award list, overlapping grades (6–9), and the same era (2010s).
  • Refugee by Alan Gratz · 800L — Both on the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award list, overlapping grades (5–9), and the same era (2010s).

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

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