Books like Zia Erases the World

If you liked Zia Erases the World, read City of Thieves, City Spies, or Hummingbird — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like Zia Erases the World by Bree Barton (Realistic Fiction · grades 3–8)? 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 3–8 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Zia Erases the World

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Why each is a match

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City of Thievesgrades 3–8
Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
City Spiesgrades 4–6
Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
Hummingbirdgrades 3–8
Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
Zeus, Dog of Chaosgrades 3–8
Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
A Boy Named Queengrades 3–8
Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
Ava and Pipgrades 3–8
Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
Baby-Sitting Is a Dangerous Jobgrades 3–8
Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
Ban This Bookgrades 3–6
Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →
Hostagegrades 3–8
Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
Lochgrades 3–8
Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Zia Erases the World for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • ¡Vamos! Let's Go Eat by Raúl the Third III · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (2–8), and the same era (2020s).
  • Donut Feed the Squirrels by Mika Song · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (2–8), and the same era (2020s).
  • How to Stay Invisible by Maggie C. Rudd · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (2–8), and the same era (2020s).
  • Summer Vamp by Violet Chan Karim · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (2–8), and the same era (2020s).
  • Swing by Audrey Meeker · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (2–8), and the same era (2020s).

Books like Zia Erases the World for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • Saving Winslow by Sharon Creech · grades 3–8 — Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8).
  • Saving Zasha by Randi G. Barrow · grades 3–8 — Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8).
  • Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor · 890L — Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6).
  • Sixth Grade Can Really Kill You by Barthe DeClements · grades 3–8 — Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8).
  • Stepping Up by Mark Fink · grades 3–8 — Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8).

Books like Zia Erases the World for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • Saving Winslow by Sharon Creech · grades 3–8 — Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8).
  • Saving Zasha by Randi G. Barrow · grades 3–8 — Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8).
  • Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor · 890L — Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6).
  • Sixth Grade Can Really Kill You by Barthe DeClements · grades 3–8 — Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8).
  • Stepping Up by Mark Fink · grades 3–8 — Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8).

Books like Zia Erases the World for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • Ruby Lost and Found by Christina Li · grades 6–9 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (6–9), and the same era (2020s).
  • The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman by Gennifer Choldenko · grades 6–9 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (6–9), and the same era (2020s).
  • The Yield by Tara June Winch · grades 11–12 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and the same era (2020s).
  • A Taste of Honey by Shelagh Delaney · grades 9–10 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction).
  • Barber Shop Chronicles by Inua Ellams · grades 11–12 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction).

Common questions

What books are similar to Zia Erases the World?
The 10 closest matches to Zia Erases the World by Bree Barton on ReadingList include City of Thieves, City Spies, Hummingbird, Zeus, Dog of Chaos, and A Boy Named Queen. Each is scored on shared themes, shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 3–8), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like Zia Erases the World reading-level appropriate?
Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 3–8), 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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