# Books written in the 1980s, assigned in US schools

Magic realism and historical fiction broaden the canon; The Joy Luck Club, Number the Stars, Hatchet.

**78** books written between 1980 and 1989 that US schools assign across state ELA standards, AP/IB syllabi, and Common Core exemplar lists.

**Decade window:** 1980–1989
**Lexile range:** 410L–1020L
**Grade span:** K–12
**Canonical URL:** https://readinglist.school/decade/1980s
**License:** [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) — please credit ReadingList.school when citing.

## Themes of the 1980s

- family (10)
- identity (8)
- friendship (6)
- humor (5)
- courage (4)
- growing up (4)
- Holocaust (3)
- boys, fiction (3)

## Authors writing in the 1980s

- Chris Van Allsburg (3)
- Beverly Cleary (2)
- Jane Yolen (2)
- Lois Lowry (2)
- Roald Dahl (2)
- Alice Provensen
- Alice Walker
- Amy Tan

## Genres

- Children's (19)
- Realistic Fiction (13)
- Juvenile Fiction (8)
- Humor (5)
- Middle Grade Fiction (5)
- Literary Fiction (3)
- Mystery (3)
- Historical Fiction (Middle Grade) (2)

## The 1980s canon

- [Anno's Medieval World](https://readinglist.school/book/annos-journey) by Mitsumasa Anno _(Grades K–5 · pub 1980)_
- [Do Bananas Chew Gum?](https://readinglist.school/book/do-bananas-chew-gum) by Jamie Gilson _(Grades 4–6 · pub 1980)_
- [Fables](https://readinglist.school/book/fables) by Arnold Lobel _(Grades K–3 · pub 1980)_
- [Jacob Have I Loved](https://readinglist.school/book/jacob-have-i-loved) by Katherine Paterson _(Grades 3–7 · pub 1980)_
- [Playing Beatie Bow](https://readinglist.school/book/playing-beatie-bow) by Ruth Park _(Grades 4–9 · pub 1980)_
- [Stone Fox](https://readinglist.school/book/stone-fox) by John Reynolds Gardiner _(550L · Grades 3–5 · pub 1980)_
- [The Weaver's Gift](https://readinglist.school/book/the-weavers-gift) by Kathryn Lasky _(Grades 4–10 · pub 1980)_
- [A Visit to William Blake's Inn](https://readinglist.school/book/a-visit-to-william-blakes-inn) by Nancy Willard _(Grades K–5 · pub 1981)_
- [Jelly Belly](https://readinglist.school/book/jelly-belly) by Robert Kimmel Smith _(Grades 4–6 · pub 1981)_
- [Jumanji](https://readinglist.school/book/jumanji) by Chris Van Allsburg _(Grades K–3 · pub 1981)_
- [Outside Over There](https://readinglist.school/book/outside-over-there) by Maurice Sendak _(Grades K–5 · pub 1981)_
- [Ramona Quimby, Age 8](https://readinglist.school/book/ramona-quimby-age-8) by Beverly Cleary _(860L · Grades 3–5 · pub 1981)_
- [The Cybil War](https://readinglist.school/book/the-cybil-war) by Betsy Byars _(Grades 3–6 · pub 1981)_
- [A Chair for My Mother](https://readinglist.school/book/a-chair-for-my-mother) by Vera B. Williams _(Grades K–5 · pub 1982)_
- [Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days](https://readinglist.school/book/be-a-perfect-person-in-just-three-days) by Stephen Manes _(Grades 4–6 · pub 1982)_
- [Behind Barbed Wire](https://readinglist.school/book/behind-barbed-wire) by Daniel S. Davis _(Grades 4–10 · pub 1982)_
- [Chimney Sweeps](https://readinglist.school/book/chimney-sweeps) by James Cross Giblin _(Grades 4–10 · pub 1982)_
- [Dicey's Song](https://readinglist.school/book/diceys-song) by Cynthia Voigt _(Grades 3–7 · pub 1982)_
- [The BFG](https://readinglist.school/book/the-bfg) by Roald Dahl _(720L · Grades 3–6 · pub 1982)_
- [The Color Purple](https://readinglist.school/book/the-color-purple) by Alice Walker _(670L · Grades 9–12 · pub 1982)_
- [The Shadow of Beauty](https://readinglist.school/book/shadow) by S. Talmond Brown _(Grades K–3 · pub 1982)_
- [When the Boys Ran the House](https://readinglist.school/book/when-the-boys-ran-the-house) by Joan Davenport Carris _(Grades 3–6 · pub 1982)_
- [You Shouldn't Have to Say Goodbye](https://readinglist.school/book/you-shouldnt-have-to-say-goodbye) by Patricia Hermes _(Grades 4–6 · pub 1982)_
- [Dear Mr. Henshaw](https://readinglist.school/book/dear-mr-henshaw) by Beverly Cleary _(Grades 4–6 · pub 1983)_
- [Karen Kepplewhite is the World's Best Kisser](https://readinglist.school/book/karen-kepplewhite-is-the-worlds-best-kisser) by Eve Bunting _(Grades 4–6 · pub 1983)_
- [My Horrible Secret](https://readinglist.school/book/my-horrible-secret) by Stephen Roos _(Grades 4–6 · pub 1983)_
- [The Dollhouse Murders](https://readinglist.school/book/the-dollhouse-murders) by Betty Ren Wright _(Grades 4–7 · pub 1983)_
- [The Glorious Flight](https://readinglist.school/book/the-glorious-flight) by Alice Provensen _(Grades K–3 · pub 1983)_
- [The Sign of the Beaver](https://readinglist.school/book/the-sign-of-the-beaver) by Elizabeth George Speare _(Grades 4–7 · pub 1983)_
- [Night of the Twisters](https://readinglist.school/book/night-of-the-twisters) by Ivy Ruckman _(Grades 3–6 · pub 1984)_
- [Tancy](https://readinglist.school/book/tancy) by Belinda Hurmence _(Grades 4–9 · pub 1984)_
- [The Computer Nut](https://readinglist.school/book/the-computer-nut) by Betsy Cromer Byars _(Grades 4–6 · pub 1984)_
- [The Hero and the Crown](https://readinglist.school/book/the-hero-and-the-crown) by Robin McKinley _(Grades 3–7 · pub 1984)_
- [The House on Mango Street](https://readinglist.school/book/the-house-on-mango-street) by Sandra Cisneros _(870L · Grades 7–10 · pub 1984)_
- [Baby-Sitting Is a Dangerous Job](https://readinglist.school/book/baby-sitting-is-a-dangerous-job) by Willo Davis Roberts _(Grades 3–8 · pub 1985)_
- [Ender's Game](https://readinglist.school/book/enders-game) by Orson Scott Card _(780L · Grades 6–10 · pub 1985)_
- [Fences](https://readinglist.school/book/fences) by August Wilson _(Grades 9–12 · pub 1985)_
- [If You Give a Mouse a Cookie](https://readinglist.school/book/if-you-give-a-mouse-a-cookie) by Laura Numeroff _(410L · Grades K–3 · pub 1985)_
- [Mama Don't Allow 25th Anniversary Edition](https://readinglist.school/book/mama-dont-allow) by Thacher Hurd _(Grades K–5 · pub 1985)_
- [Sarah, Plain and Tall](https://readinglist.school/book/sarah-plain-and-tall) by Patricia MacLachlan _(660L · Grades 3–5 · pub 1985)_
- [Sixth Grade Can Really Kill You](https://readinglist.school/book/sixth-grade-can-really-kill-you) by Barthe DeClements _(Grades 3–8 · pub 1985)_
- [The Handmaid's Tale](https://readinglist.school/book/the-handmaids-tale) by Margaret Atwood _(750L · Grades 11–12 · pub 1985)_
- [The Polar Express](https://readinglist.school/book/the-polar-express) by Chris Van Allsburg _(Grades K–3 · pub 1985)_
- [Who Needs a Bratty Brother?](https://readinglist.school/book/who-needs-a-bratty-brother) by Linda Gondosch _(Grades 3–5 · pub 1985)_
- [Alphabatics](https://readinglist.school/book/alphabetics) by Suse MacDonald _(Grades K–5 · pub 1986)_
- [Behave Yourself, Bethany Brant](https://readinglist.school/book/charley-skedaddle) by Patricia Beatty _(Grades 5–8 · pub 1986)_
- [C.L.O.U.D.S.](https://readinglist.school/book/clouds) by Pat Cummings _(Grades K–5 · pub 1986)_
- [Conrad's War](https://readinglist.school/book/conrads-war) by Andrew Davies _(Grades 4–9 · pub 1986)_
- [Hey, Al](https://readinglist.school/book/hey-al) by Arthur Yorinks _(Grades K–3 · pub 1986)_
- [Maus: A Survivor's Tale](https://readinglist.school/book/maus) by Art Spiegelman _(Grades 9–12 · pub 1986)_
- [Poverty in America](https://readinglist.school/book/poverty-in-america) by Milton Meltzer _(Grades 4–10 · pub 1986)_
- [Streams to the River, River to the Sea](https://readinglist.school/book/streams-to-the-river-river-to-the-sea) by Scott O'Dell _(Grades 6–9 · pub 1986)_
- [The Stranger](https://readinglist.school/book/the-stranger) by Chris Van Allsburg _(Grades 3–5 · pub 1986)_
- [The Whipping Boy](https://readinglist.school/book/the-whipping-boy) by Sid Fleischman _(Grades 3–7 · pub 1986)_
- [Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass](https://readinglist.school/book/lincoln-a-photobiography) by Russell Freedman _(Grades 3–7 · pub 1987)_
- [Beloved](https://readinglist.school/book/beloved) by Toni Morrison _(870L · Grades 11–12 · pub 1987)_
- [Class Clown](https://readinglist.school/book/class-clown) by Johanna Hurwitz _(Grades 3–5 · pub 1987)_
- [Fudge](https://readinglist.school/book/fudge) by Charlotte Towner Graeber _(Grades 4–6 · pub 1987)_
- [Hatchet](https://readinglist.school/book/hatchet) by Gary Paulsen _(1020L · Grades 5–8 · pub 1987)_
- [Me, My Goat, and My Sister's Wedding](https://readinglist.school/book/and-you-give-me-a-pain-elaine) by Stella Pevsner _(Grades 4–9 · pub 1987)_
- [Owl Moon](https://readinglist.school/book/owl-moon) by Jane Yolen _(Grades K–3 · pub 1987)_
- [After the Dancing Days](https://readinglist.school/book/after-the-dancing-days) by Margaret Rostkowski _(Grades 4–9 · pub 1988)_
- [All About Sam](https://readinglist.school/book/all-about-sam) by Lois Lowry _(Grades 4–6 · pub 1988)_
- [Joyful Noise](https://readinglist.school/book/joyful-noise) by Paul Fleischman _(Grades 3–7 · pub 1988)_
- [Matilda](https://readinglist.school/book/matilda) by Roald Dahl _(840L · Grades 3–6 · pub 1988)_
- [Shy Charles](https://readinglist.school/book/shy-charles) by Rosemary Wells _(Grades K–5 · pub 1988)_
- [Song and Dance Man](https://readinglist.school/book/song-and-dance-man) by Karen Ackerman _(Grades K–3 · pub 1988)_
- [The Devil's Arithmetic](https://readinglist.school/book/the-devils-arithmetic) by Jane Yolen _(730L · Grades 5–8 · pub 1988)_
- [Anthony Burns](https://readinglist.school/book/anthony-burns-the-defeat-and-triumph-of-a-fugitive-slave) by Virginia Hamilton _(Grades 4–10 · pub 1989)_
- [Giraffes, the Sentinels of the Savannas](https://readinglist.school/book/the-illustrated-dinosaur-dictionary) by Helen Roney Sattler _(Grades 4–10 · pub 1989)_
- [Lon Po Po](https://readinglist.school/book/lon-po-po) by Ed Young _(Grades K–3 · pub 1989)_
- [My Teacher Is an Alien](https://readinglist.school/book/my-teacher-is-an-alien) by Bruce Coville _(Grades 3–6 · pub 1989)_
- [Nightmare Mountain](https://readinglist.school/book/nightmare-mountain) by Peg Kehret _(Grades 3–6 · pub 1989)_
- [Number the Stars](https://readinglist.school/book/number-the-stars) by Lois Lowry _(670L · Grades 4–7 · pub 1989)_
- [Panama Canal](https://readinglist.school/book/panama-canal-gateway-to-the-world) by Judith St. George _(Grades 4–10 · pub 1989)_
- [The Butterfly Jar](https://readinglist.school/book/the-butterfly-jar) by Jeffrey Moss _(Grades 3–5 · pub 1989)_
- [The Joy Luck Club](https://readinglist.school/book/the-joy-luck-club) by Amy Tan _(930L · Grades 9–12 · pub 1989)_
- [Wayside School Is Falling Down](https://readinglist.school/book/wayside-school-is-falling-down) by Louis Sachar _(Grades 3–5 · pub 1989)_

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_Generated from primary-source citations indexed on ReadingList.school. JSON API: https://readinglist.school/api/decade/1980s · HTML view: https://readinglist.school/decade/1980s._