Orbiting Jupiter
Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt is assigned in US schools at grades 7–10. It appears across 2 curriculum references and 2 states, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.
This page shows where Orbiting Jupiter is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.
- Grade range
- Grades 7–10
- Age range
- Ages 12–15
- First published
- 2015
- Genre
- Realistic Fiction
- ISBN-13
- 9781448188208
Where to find this book
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About this book
A heartbreaking story, narrated by twelve-year-old Jack, whose family is caring for fourteen-year-old Joseph. Joseph is misunderstood. He was incarcerated for trying to kill a teacher. Or so the rumours say. But Jack and his family see something others in town don’t want to. What's more, Joseph has a daughter he’s never seen. The two boys go on a journey through the bitter Maine winter to help Joseph find his baby - no matter the cost.
Why widely assigned
This Realistic Fiction title, typically at grades 7–10. Written in the 2010s; pairs with curriculum units on fatherhood and loss; cited across 2 curriculum frameworks.
Themes
fatherhood · loss · compassion
Where this book is assigned
Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award
- recommended·7th grade · Arizonasource: Arizona Library Association — Grand Canyon Reader Award (student-choice; Intermediate + Tween divisions; annual since 1977)
- recommended·8th grade · Arizonasource: Arizona Library Association — Grand Canyon Reader Award (student-choice; Intermediate + Tween divisions; annual since 1977)
Young Hoosier Book Award
- recommended·7th grade · Indianasource: Indiana Library Federation — Young Hoosier Book Award Past Winners (Intermediate grades 4-6 + Middle Grade grades 6-8; annual since 1975)
- recommended·8th grade · Indianasource: Indiana Library Federation — Young Hoosier Book Award Past Winners (Intermediate grades 4-6 + Middle Grade grades 6-8; annual since 1975)
Similar grade-level books
The Great GatsbyF. Scott Fitzgerald · 1070L
1984George Orwell · 1090L
The GiverLois Lowry · 760L
The Diary of a Young GirlAnne Frank · 1080L
See all books like Orbiting Jupiter→ — matched on theme + reading level.
Common questions
- What grade level is Orbiting Jupiter?
- Orbiting Jupiter is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 7–10. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
- What curricula assign Orbiting Jupiter?
- Orbiting Jupiter appears on reading lists for Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award, Young Hoosier Book Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
- Is Orbiting Jupiter banned in schools?
- Orbiting Jupiter does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally.
- What themes does Orbiting Jupiter explore?
- Central themes in Orbiting Jupiter include fatherhood, loss, compassion. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.
Why this book is on this list
Each dimension below is sourced from a public reference. The full framework is documented on the classification standard page.
- Lexile measure
- Not classified — this book has no published Lexile measure.
- Grade band
- Grades 7–10 — drawn from state ELA frameworks and AP/IB syllabi citing this book.
- Curriculum alignment
- Cited in 2 curricula on this site (see “Where assigned” above for primary-source links).
- State-level evidence
- Cited in 2 states ELA frameworks or DOE list (see citations above).
- Removal / banning records
- No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
- Seasonal / contextual tags
- Tagged for: book-club.