Sal and Gabi Break the Universe
by Carlos Hernandez
Sal and Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez is assigned in US schools at grades 4–7. It appears across 1 curriculum reference and 1 state, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.
This page shows where Sal and Gabi Break the Universe 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 4–7
- Age range
- Ages 9–12
- First published
- 2019
- Genre
- Science Fiction
- ISBN-13
- 9781368023627
Where to find this book
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About this book
Sal Vidón can reach into other universes — sometimes to glimpse his late mother, sometimes to drop a raw chicken into a bully's locker. When sharp-eyed Gabi figures him out, the two friends risk tearing a hole in reality. Carlos Hernandez's Pura Belpré-honored grades 4-7 sci-fi is funny, Cuban-American, and big-hearted.
Why widely assigned
This Science Fiction title, typically at grades 4–7. Written in the 2010s; pairs with curriculum units on friendship and grief; cited across 1 curriculum framework.
Themes
friendship · grief · family · humor
Where this book is assigned
Battle of the Books (state reading programs)
Similar grade-level books
The GiverLois Lowry · 760L
The Diary of a Young GirlAnne Frank · 1080L
The OutsidersS.E. Hinton · 750L
To Kill a MockingbirdHarper Lee · 870L
See all books like Sal and Gabi Break the Universe→ — matched on theme + reading level.
Common questions
- What grade level is Sal and Gabi Break the Universe?
- Sal and Gabi Break the Universe is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 4–7. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
- What curricula assign Sal and Gabi Break the Universe?
- Sal and Gabi Break the Universe appears on reading lists for Battle of the Books (state reading programs). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
- Is Sal and Gabi Break the Universe banned in schools?
- Sal and Gabi Break the Universe 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 Sal and Gabi Break the Universe explore?
- Central themes in Sal and Gabi Break the Universe include friendship, grief, family, humor. 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 4–7 — drawn from state ELA frameworks and AP/IB syllabi citing this book.
- Curriculum alignment
- Cited in 1 curriculum on this site (see “Where assigned” above for primary-source links).
- State-level evidence
- Cited in 1 state ELA framework 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.