Books like Long Way Down

Looking for books like Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds (Young Adult Fiction · 720L · grades 7–12)? It’s most often read for its themes of grief, revenge, and family. The 10 titlesbelow are the closest matches in the ReadingList database — each scored on shared themes, genre, and reading level, and each linked to the curricula, states, and grades where it’s assigned, with primary sources.

These are reading-level matches, not just topical ones — so the picks stay grade-appropriate for a grades 7–12 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Long Way Down

Why each is a match

The Outsiders750L
Shares themes of family and violence, same genre (Young Adult Fiction), and a close reading level (750L vs 720L).
The Crossover750L
Shares themes of grief and family and a close reading level (750L vs 720L).
Where the Red Fern Grows700L
Shares themes of grief and family and a close reading level (700L vs 720L).
Walk Two Moons770L
Shares themes of grief and family and a close reading level (770L vs 720L).
The Poet X800L
Shares themes of family, same genre (Young Adult Fiction), and a close reading level (800L vs 720L).
The Fault in Our Stars850L
Shares themes of grief, same genre (Young Adult Fiction), and a close reading level (850L vs 720L).
Out of My Mind700L
Shares themes of family and a close reading level (700L vs 720L).
One Crazy Summer750L
Shares themes of family and a close reading level (750L vs 720L).
Pax760L
Shares themes of loss and a close reading level (760L vs 720L).
Rebound780L
Shares themes of family and a close reading level (780L vs 720L).

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