8th grade books about Loss
3 books commonly assigned to 8th grade students explore loss— every title’s grade range covers 8th grade, so each is grade-appropriate by curriculum placement. Each links to its reading level, themes, and the curricula that cite it.
Reading difficulty: the typical 8th grade text-complexity band is 925–1185L (Common Core Appendix A). Of the 2 loss titles here with a Lexile score, 0 are grade-level, 2 are more accessible, and 0 are stretch texts. Match a book to your reader’s measured Lexile rather than to the grade alone.
What this list holds: All 3 titles are cited by at least one US curriculum or award list for 8th grade, first published between 2005 and 2017. The most widely cited at this grade is Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt (5 lists).
3 8th grade books about loss
Reading the whole 8th grade books about loss? Kids who struggle with the print versions often finish the assigned books by listening.
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Orbiting Jupiter
Gary D. SchmidtCited in 5 curricula across 5 states, taught from grade 7 to 10. Also covers fatherhood and compassion.
Long Way Down
Jason ReynoldsCited in 3 curricula across 2 states, taught from grade 7 to 12. Also covers grief, revenge and family. At 720L it reads well below the 925–1185L band for this grade.
The Book Thief
Markus ZusakCited in 1 curriculum, taught from grade 8 to 11. Also covers Holocaust, courage and the power of words. At 730L it sits just under the 925–1185L band for this grade.
Loss books at other grades
3rd grade · 4th grade · 5th grade · 7th grade · 9th grade · 10th grade
Other 8th grade themes
Family · Friendship · Identity · Courage · Survival · History · Mystery and Detective Stories · Schools
← Full 8th grade reading list · All lossbooks →
Frequently asked questions
What loss books are good for 8th grade students?
3 books exploring loss have a grade range that covers 8th grade and are assigned across US-school curricula — Common Core exemplars, AP, IB, Cambridge, and state ELA standards. Each title on this page links to its full curriculum citations and reading level.
Are these loss books grade-appropriate for 8th grade?
Every title's grade range covers 8th grade. The typical 8th grade text-complexity band is 925–1185L (Common Core Appendix A); of the 2 books here with a Lexile score, 0 are grade-level, 2 more accessible, and 0 a stretch. Match a book to your reader's measured Lexile rather than to the grade alone.
How many loss books are on the 8th grade list?
This page lists 3 8th grade titles about loss, ordered by how many US curricula cite each one for this grade (ties alphabetical). The list expands as more curriculum references are verified.
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