# Books about courage assigned in US schools

**81** books in the US-school assigned-reading canon explore _courage_. Sourced from state ELA standards, AP/IB syllabi, and Common Core exemplar lists.

**Lexile range:** 590L–990L
**Grade span:** K–12
**Canonical URL:** https://readinglist.school/theme/courage
**Wikipedia (entity):** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courage
**License:** [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) — please credit ReadingList.school when citing.

## Authors who explore courage

- [Alan Gratz](https://readinglist.school/author/alan-gratz) (4 books)
- [Jennifer A. Nielsen](https://readinglist.school/author/jennifer-a-nielsen) (3 books)
- [Christopher Denise](https://readinglist.school/author/christopher-denise) (2 books)
- [Andrea Davis Pinkney](https://readinglist.school/author/andrea-davis-pinkney)
- [Anthony Horowitz](https://readinglist.school/author/anthony-horowitz)
- [Ben Mikaelsen](https://readinglist.school/author/ben-mikaelsen)
- [Bruce Coville](https://readinglist.school/author/bruce-coville)
- [Christina Soontornvat](https://readinglist.school/author/christina-soontornvat)

## courage canon

- [A Night Divided](https://readinglist.school/book/a-night-divided) by Jennifer A. Nielsen _(Grades 5–8)_
- [A Tale Dark and Grimm](https://readinglist.school/book/a-tale-dark-and-grimm) by Adam Gidwitz _(Grades 4–7)_
- [Allies](https://readinglist.school/book/allies) by Alan Gratz _(Grades 5–9)_
- [Amal Unbound](https://readinglist.school/book/amal-unbound) by Aisha Saeed _(Grades 5–8)_
- [Amari and the Night Brothers](https://readinglist.school/book/amari-and-the-night-brothers) by B. B. Alston _(Grades 4–7)_
- [Amir and the Jinn Princess](https://readinglist.school/book/amir-and-the-jinn-princess) by M. T. Khan _(Grades 4–8)_
- [Bea and the New Deal Horse](https://readinglist.school/book/bea-and-the-new-deal-horse) by L. M. Elliott _(Grades 3–5)_
- [Because of You, John Lewis](https://readinglist.school/book/because-of-you-john-lewis) by Andrea Davis Pinkney _(Grades 3–5)_
- [Brick Dust and Bones](https://readinglist.school/book/brick-dust-and-bones) by M.R. Fournet _(Grades 6–8)_
- [Code Name Kingfisher](https://readinglist.school/book/code-name-kingfisher) by Liz Kessler _(Grades 4–8)_
- [Divergent](https://readinglist.school/book/divergent) by Veronica Roth _(Grades 8–12)_
- [Divine Rivals](https://readinglist.school/book/divine-rivals) by Rebecca Ross _(Grades 9–12)_
- [Dogtown](https://readinglist.school/book/dogtown) by Katherine Applegate & Gennifer Choldenko _(Grades 3–6)_
- [Doña Quixote: Rise of the Knight](https://readinglist.school/book/dona-quixote-rise-of-the-knight) by Rey Terciero _(Grades 3–6)_
- [Echo](https://readinglist.school/book/echo) by Pam Muñoz Ryan _(680L · Grades 5–8)_
- [Ella Enchanted](https://readinglist.school/book/ella-enchanted) by Gail Carson Levine _(Grades 4–7)_
- [Eragon](https://readinglist.school/book/eragon) by Christopher Paolini _(Grades 6–9)_
- [Fablehaven](https://readinglist.school/book/fablehaven) by Brandon Mull _(Grades 4–7)_
- [Global](https://readinglist.school/book/global) by Eoin Colfer & Andrew Donkin _(Grades 6–8)_
- [Gregor the Overlander](https://readinglist.school/book/gregor-the-overlander) by Suzanne Collins _(Grades 4–7)_
- [Guts](https://readinglist.school/book/guts) by Raina Telgemeier _(Grades 4–8)_
- [Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone](https://readinglist.school/book/harry-potter-and-the-sorcerers-stone) by J.K. Rowling _(880L · Grades 4–7)_
- [Heroes](https://readinglist.school/book/heroes) by Alan Gratz _(Grades 6–8)_
- [Hidden Hope: How a Toy and a Hero Saved Lives During the Holocaust](https://readinglist.school/book/hidden-hope) by Elisa Boxer _(Grades 2–5)_
- [Hoops](https://readinglist.school/book/hoops-tavares) by Matt Tavares _(Grades 3–5)_
- [How to Eat Fried Worms](https://readinglist.school/book/how-to-eat-fried-worms) by Thomas Rockwell _(Grades 3–6)_
- [I Am Malala (Young Readers Edition)](https://readinglist.school/book/i-am-malala-young-readers) by Malala Yousafzai _(830L · Grades 6–10)_
- [I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912](https://readinglist.school/book/i-survived-the-sinking-of-the-titanic-1912) by Lauren Tarshis _(590L · Grades 2–5)_
- [Iceberg](https://readinglist.school/book/iceberg) by Jennifer A. Nielsen _(Grades 3–7)_
- [Impossible Creatures](https://readinglist.school/book/impossible-creatures) by Katherine Rundell _(Grades 4–8)_
- [It Came from the Trees](https://readinglist.school/book/it-came-from-the-trees) by Ally Russell _(Grades 3–6)_
- [Just Like Millie](https://readinglist.school/book/just-like-millie) by Lauren Castillo _(Grades K–3)_
- [Knight Owl](https://readinglist.school/book/knight-owl) by Christopher Denise _(Grades K–3)_
- [Knight Owl and Early Bird](https://readinglist.school/book/knight-owl-and-early-bird) by Christopher Denise _(Grades K–3)_
- [Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25](https://readinglist.school/book/michael-vey-the-prisoner-of-cell-25) by Richard Paul Evans _(Grades 6–9)_
- [Misfit Mansion](https://readinglist.school/book/misfit-mansion) by Kay Davault _(Grades 3–5)_
- [Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH](https://readinglist.school/book/mrs-frisby-and-the-rats-of-nimh) by Robert C. O'Brien _(790L · Grades 4–6)_
- [My Father's Dragon](https://readinglist.school/book/my-fathers-dragon) by Ruth Stiles Gannett _(990L · Grades 2–4)_
- [My Teacher Is an Alien](https://readinglist.school/book/my-teacher-is-an-alien) by Bruce Coville _(Grades 3–6)_
- [Nimbus](https://readinglist.school/book/nimbus) by Jan Eldredge _(Grades 3–6)_
- [Now Let Me Fly: A Portrait of Eugene Bullard](https://readinglist.school/book/now-let-me-fly) by Ronald Wimberly _(Grades 9–12)_
- [Number the Stars](https://readinglist.school/book/number-the-stars) by Lois Lowry _(670L · Grades 4–7)_
- [Old Yeller](https://readinglist.school/book/old-yeller) by Fred Gipson _(Grades 5–8)_
- [Projekt 1065](https://readinglist.school/book/projekt-1065) by Alan Gratz _(Grades 5–9)_
- [Punycorn](https://readinglist.school/book/punycorn) by Andi Watson _(Grades 3–5)_
- [Romiette and Julio](https://readinglist.school/book/romiette-and-julio) by Sharon M. Draper _(Grades 7–10)_
- [Shiloh](https://readinglist.school/book/shiloh) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor _(890L · Grades 3–6)_
- [Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl](https://readinglist.school/book/shinji-takahashi-and-the-mark-of-the-coatl) by Julie Kagawa _(Grades 6–8)_
- [Simon Sort of Says](https://readinglist.school/book/simon-sort-of-says) by Erin Bow _(Grades 6–8)_
- [Sky's End](https://readinglist.school/book/skys-end) by Marc J. Gregson _(Grades 7–12)_
- [Skyriders](https://readinglist.school/book/skyriders) by Polly Holyoke _(Grades 6–8)_
- [Stormbreaker](https://readinglist.school/book/stormbreaker) by Anthony Horowitz _(Grades 5–8)_
- [Stuntboy, In-Between Time](https://readinglist.school/book/stuntboy-in-between-time) by Jason Reynolds _(Grades 3–6)_
- [Swim Team](https://readinglist.school/book/swim-team) by Johnnie Christmas _(Grades 3–7)_
- [The BFG](https://readinglist.school/book/the-bfg) by Roald Dahl _(720L · Grades 3–6)_
- [The Book Thief](https://readinglist.school/book/the-book-thief) by Markus Zusak _(730L · Grades 8–11)_
- [The Boy at the Back of the Class](https://readinglist.school/book/the-boy-at-the-back-of-the-class) by Onjali Q. Raúf _(Grades 3–6)_
- [The Cay](https://readinglist.school/book/the-cay) by Theodore Taylor _(Grades 5–8)_
- [The False Prince](https://readinglist.school/book/the-false-prince) by Jennifer A. Nielsen _(Grades 5–9)_
- [The First State of Being](https://readinglist.school/book/the-first-state-of-being) by Erin Entrada Kelly _(Grades 6–8)_
- [The Guardian Test (Legends of Lotus Island #1)](https://readinglist.school/book/the-guardian-test) by Christina Soontornvat _(Grades 2–5)_
- [The House at the Edge of Magic](https://readinglist.school/book/the-house-at-the-edge-of-magic) by Amy Sparkes _(Grades 3–5)_
- [The Last Hope in Hopetown](https://readinglist.school/book/the-last-hope-in-hopetown) by Maria Tureaud _(Grades 6–8)_
- [The Last Musketeer](https://readinglist.school/book/the-last-musketeer) by Stuart Gibbs _(Grades 4–7)_
- [The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe](https://readinglist.school/book/the-lion-the-witch-and-the-wardrobe) by C.S. Lewis _(940L · Grades 4–7)_
- [The Night Train](https://readinglist.school/book/the-night-train) by Lorelei Savaryn _(Grades 4–8)_
- [The River](https://readinglist.school/book/the-river) by Gary Paulsen _(Grades 5–8)_
- [The Skull: A Tyrolean Folktale](https://readinglist.school/book/the-skull) by Jon Klassen _(Grades 3–5)_
- [The Tale of Despereaux](https://readinglist.school/book/the-tale-of-despereaux) by Kate DiCamillo _(670L · Grades 3–6)_
- [The Trumpet of the Swan](https://readinglist.school/book/the-trumpet-of-the-swan) by E.B. White _(Grades 3–6)_
- [The Whipping Boy](https://readinglist.school/book/the-whipping-boy) by Sid Fleischman _(Grades 3–7)_
- [The Wild Journey of Juniper Berry](https://readinglist.school/book/the-wild-journey-of-juniper-berry) by Chad Morris _(Grades 3–6)_
- [The Witching Wind](https://readinglist.school/book/the-witching-wind) by Natalie Lloyd _(Grades 3–6)_
- [Torch](https://readinglist.school/book/torch) by Lyn Miller-Lachmann _(Grades 9–12)_
- [Touching Spirit Bear](https://readinglist.school/book/touching-spirit-bear) by Ben Mikaelsen _(Grades 6–9)_
- [Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky](https://readinglist.school/book/tristan-strong-punches-a-hole-in-the-sky) by Kwame Mbalia _(Grades 4–7)_
- [Two Degrees](https://readinglist.school/book/two-degrees) by Alan Gratz _(Grades 5–8)_
- [What Happened to Rachel Riley?](https://readinglist.school/book/what-happened-to-rachel-riley) by Claire Swinarski _(Grades 6–8)_
- [Wild Blue: Taming a Big-Kid Bike](https://readinglist.school/book/wild-blue-taming-a-big-kid-bike) by Dashka Slater _(Grades K–2)_
- [Willa of the Wood](https://readinglist.school/book/willa-of-the-wood) by Robert Beatty _(Grades 4–7)_
- [Witchlings](https://readinglist.school/book/witchlings) by Claribel A. Ortega _(Grades 2–5)_

---

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