Cover of Orbiting Jupiter

Orbiting Jupiter

by Gary D. Schmidt

Widely assigned — 4 curriculum lists · 4 states

On reading-award lists:Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association)Connecticut Nutmeg Book AwardGrand Canyon Reader Award (Arizona) — formerly the Arizona Young Readers AwardYoung Hoosier Book Award

Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt is assigned in US schools at grades 7–10. It appears across 4 curriculum references and 4 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.

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Grade range
Grades 7–10
Age range
Ages 12–15
First published
2015
Genre
Realistic Fiction
ISBN-13
9781448188208

New to these terms? Reading levels by grade

More formats & details

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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.

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See all books like Orbiting Jupiter→ — matched on theme + reading level.

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 4 curriculum frameworks.

Themes

fatherhood · loss · compassion

Where this book is assigned

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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 Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award, Grand Canyon Reader Award (Arizona) — formerly the Arizona Young Readers Award, Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association), and 1 others. 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

How we classify

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 4 curricula on this site (see “Where assigned” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence
Cited in 4 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.

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