Books Like The Lions of Little Rock

R. J. Palacio

Like Marlee's story, Wonder follows a child navigating a new school and the friendships that shape who she becomes. Its shifting narrators show how kindness and courage can cost something, much as Marlee and Liz's bond does.

Kate DiCamillo

Opal's lonely summer in a small Southern town mirrors Marlee's search for connection. DiCamillo's gentle, observant voice and small-town community will feel familiar to readers who loved the rhythm of Marlee's narration.

Holly Goldberg Sloan

Willow, a bright outsider, finds unlikely friends who help her face hard truths. Like The Lions of Little Rock, it pairs a sharp, original child narrator with a story about loyalty and standing up for the people you love.

Jacqueline Woodson

Woodson's memoir in verse grows up during the civil rights era, much as Marlee does in Little Rock. Its intimate, lyrical storytelling shows how the movement touched ordinary childhoods, a theme readers of Levine's book will recognise.

Deborah Wiles

A picture book about two boys in 1964 Mississippi whose friendship crosses a divided town. It shares The Lions of Little Rock's focus on children who see segregation clearly and choose friendship anyway.

Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Ally hides a secret and fights to be seen, much as Marlee does when her world feels like it is falling apart. Hunt's middle-grade voice is funny and perceptive, and it explores the courage it takes to be yourself at school.

Kelly Yang

Mia, a clever girl who speaks up for others, faces prejudice and hardship in a new place. Like Marlee, she is brave and brash in her own way, and the story asks what it means to stand up when the odds are against you.

Andrea Davis Pinkney

This picture book shows young people choosing nonviolent protest during the civil rights era. Its focus on friends who act together gives younger readers a clear, hopeful companion to the courage at the heart of The Lions of Little Rock.

Sharon M. Draper

Set in 1932 North Carolina, this story follows a girl who sees the racial injustice around her clearly and speaks out. Its honest look at segregation and its dangers will appeal to readers who wanted more of Marlee's world.

Pam Muñoz Ryan

Esperanza's sudden loss of home and status forces her to find new strength and friendships. Like Marlee, she must rethink what she thought mattered, and the book's warm, carefully drawn historical setting rewards readers who loved the first book.

Harper Lee

Told through a young narrator's eyes, this classic examines racial injustice in a Southern town and the cost of standing up for what is right. Readers who loved Marlee's clear-eyed view of segregation will find a powerful older companion.