# Books about family assigned in US schools

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

**Lexile range:** 360L–1300L
**Grade span:** K–12
**Canonical URL:** https://readinglist.school/theme/family
**Wikipedia (entity):** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family
**License:** [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) — please credit ReadingList.school when citing.

## Authors who explore family

- [Beverly Cleary](https://readinglist.school/author/beverly-cleary) (3 books)
- [Kwame Alexander](https://readinglist.school/author/kwame-alexander) (3 books)
- [Lois Lowry](https://readinglist.school/author/lois-lowry) (3 books)
- [Sharon M. Draper](https://readinglist.school/author/sharon-m-draper) (3 books)
- [Angie Thomas](https://readinglist.school/author/angie-thomas) (2 books)
- [Christopher Paul Curtis](https://readinglist.school/author/christopher-paul-curtis) (2 books)
- [E.B. White](https://readinglist.school/author/eb-white) (2 books)
- [Holly Jackson](https://readinglist.school/author/holly-jackson) (2 books)

## family canon

- [A Boy Called Bat](https://readinglist.school/book/a-boy-called-bat) by Elana K. Arnold _(Grades 3–5)_
- [A Corner of the Universe](https://readinglist.school/book/a-corner-of-the-universe) by Ann M. Martin _(Grades 5–8)_
- [A Night Divided](https://readinglist.school/book/a-night-divided) by Jennifer A. Nielsen _(Grades 5–8)_
- [All About Sam](https://readinglist.school/book/all-about-sam) by Lois Lowry _(Grades 4–6)_
- [All the Lovely Bad Ones](https://readinglist.school/book/all-the-lovely-bad-ones) by Mary Downing Hahn _(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)_
- [Antigone](https://readinglist.school/book/antigone) by Sophocles _(Grades 9–12)_
- [Attaboy, Sam!](https://readinglist.school/book/attaboy-sam) by Lois Lowry _(Grades 4–6)_
- [Bea and the New Deal Horse](https://readinglist.school/book/bea-and-the-new-deal-horse) by L. M. Elliott _(Grades 3–5)_
- [Between Two Brothers](https://readinglist.school/book/between-two-brothers) by Crystal Allen _(Grades 4–8)_
- [Blended](https://readinglist.school/book/blended) by Sharon M. Draper _(610L · Grades 3–7)_
- [Booked](https://readinglist.school/book/booked) by Kwame Alexander _(Grades 5–8)_
- [Boy 2.0](https://readinglist.school/book/boy-2-0) by Tracey Baptiste _(Grades 4–8)_
- [Brick Dust and Bones](https://readinglist.school/book/brick-dust-and-bones) by M.R. Fournet _(Grades 6–8)_
- [Brown Girl Dreaming](https://readinglist.school/book/brown-girl-dreaming) by Jacqueline Woodson _(990L · Grades 5–8)_
- [Bud, Not Buddy](https://readinglist.school/book/bud-not-buddy) by Christopher Paul Curtis _(950L · Grades 4–7)_
- [Charlie and the Chocolate Factory](https://readinglist.school/book/charlie-and-the-chocolate-factory) by Roald Dahl _(810L · Grades 3–6)_
- [City of Ghosts](https://readinglist.school/book/city-of-ghosts) by Victoria Schwab _(Grades 4–7)_
- [Code Name Kingfisher](https://readinglist.school/book/code-name-kingfisher) by Liz Kessler _(Grades 4–8)_
- [Countdown to Yesterday](https://readinglist.school/book/countdown-to-yesterday) by Shirley Marr _(Grades 3–6)_
- [Crenshaw](https://readinglist.school/book/crenshaw) by Katherine Applegate _(Grades 3–6)_
- [Cryptid Hunters](https://readinglist.school/book/cryptid-hunters) by Roland Smith _(Grades 5–8)_
- [Curveball](https://readinglist.school/book/curveball) by Pablo Cartaya _(Grades 3–5)_
- [Dadaji's Paintbrush](https://readinglist.school/book/dadajis-paintbrush) by Rashmi Sirdeshpande _(Grades K–3)_
- [Dear Mr. Henshaw](https://readinglist.school/book/dear-mr-henshaw) by Beverly Cleary _(Grades 4–6)_
- [Diary of a Wimpy Kid](https://readinglist.school/book/diary-of-a-wimpy-kid) by Jeff Kinney _(950L · Grades 3–7)_
- [Dinosaurs Before Dark (Magic Tree House #1)](https://readinglist.school/book/magic-tree-house-dinosaurs-before-dark) by Mary Pope Osborne _(510L · Grades 1–4)_
- [Double Fudge](https://readinglist.school/book/double-fudge) by Judy Blume _(Grades 4–6)_
- [Doña Quixote: Rise of the Knight](https://readinglist.school/book/dona-quixote-rise-of-the-knight) by Rey Terciero _(Grades 3–6)_
- [Dragonwings](https://readinglist.school/book/dragonwings) by Laurence Yep _(870L · Grades 6–8)_
- [Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie](https://readinglist.school/book/drums-girls-and-dangerous-pie) by Jordan Sonnenblick _(Grades 6–9)_
- [Duel](https://readinglist.school/book/duel) by Jessixa Bagley _(Grades 4–8)_
- [Echo](https://readinglist.school/book/echo) by Pam Muñoz Ryan _(680L · Grades 5–8)_
- [Everything We Never Had](https://readinglist.school/book/everything-we-never-had) by Randy Ribay _(Grades 7–12)_
- [Fablehaven](https://readinglist.school/book/fablehaven) by Brandon Mull _(Grades 4–7)_
- [Fences](https://readinglist.school/book/fences) by August Wilson _(Grades 9–12)_
- [Ferris](https://readinglist.school/book/ferris) by Kate DiCamillo _(Grades 3–6)_
- [Final Word (The Winterton Deception #1)](https://readinglist.school/book/final-word) by Janet Sumner Johnson _(Grades 3–7)_
- [Flat Stanley](https://readinglist.school/book/flat-stanley) by Jeff Brown _(540L · Grades 1–3)_
- [Forged by Fire](https://readinglist.school/book/forged-by-fire) by Sharon M. Draper _(Grades 7–10)_
- [Four Eyes: A Graphic Novel](https://readinglist.school/book/four-eyes-graphic-novel) by Rex Ogle _(Grades 3–7)_
- [Fowl Play](https://readinglist.school/book/fowl-play) by Kristin O'Donnell Tubb _(Grades 3–6)_
- [Front Desk](https://readinglist.school/book/front-desk) by Kelly Yang _(640L · Grades 3–7)_
- [Geronimo Stilton: Lost Treasure of the Emerald Eye](https://readinglist.school/book/geronimo-stilton-lost-treasure-of-the-emerald-eye) by Geronimo Stilton _(530L · Grades 2–5)_
- [Ghost Boys](https://readinglist.school/book/ghost-boys) by Jewell Parker Rhodes _(360L · Grades 4–7)_
- [Goosebumps: Welcome to Dead House](https://readinglist.school/book/goosebumps-welcome-to-dead-house) by R.L. Stine _(Grades 3–7)_
- [Gregor the Overlander](https://readinglist.school/book/gregor-the-overlander) by Suzanne Collins _(Grades 4–7)_
- [Growing Home](https://readinglist.school/book/growing-home) by Beth Ferry _(Grades 3–5)_
- [Hope in the Valley](https://readinglist.school/book/hope-in-the-valley) by Mitali Perkins _(Grades 3–6)_
- [How Dinosaurs Went Extinct: A Safety Guide](https://readinglist.school/book/how-dinosaurs-went-extinct) by Ame Dyckman _(Grades K–2)_
- [How to Survive Your Murder](https://readinglist.school/book/how-to-survive-your-murder) by Danielle Valentine _(Grades 9–12)_
- [I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings](https://readinglist.school/book/i-know-why-the-caged-bird-sings) by Maya Angelou _(1070L · Grades 10–12)_
- [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)_
- [Ida B. and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World](https://readinglist.school/book/ida-b-and-her-plans-to-maximize-fun-avoid-disaster-and-save-the-world) by Katherine Hannigan _(Grades 2–8)_
- [In the Beautiful Country](https://readinglist.school/book/in-the-beautiful-country) by Jane Kuo _(Grades 3–6)_
- [Inside Out & Back Again](https://readinglist.school/book/inside-out-and-back-again) by Thanhha Lai _(800L · Grades 4–8)_
- [Invisible Isabel](https://readinglist.school/book/invisible-isabel) by Sally J. Pla _(Grades 3–6)_
- [Ivy and Bean](https://readinglist.school/book/ivy-and-bean) by Annie Barrows _(580L · Grades 2–4)_
- [Jawbreaker](https://readinglist.school/book/jawbreaker) by Christina Wyman _(Grades 3–7)_
- [Just a Pinch of Magic](https://readinglist.school/book/just-a-pinch-of-magic) by Alechia Dow _(Grades 4–8)_
- [King Lear](https://readinglist.school/book/king-lear) by William Shakespeare _(Grades 11–12)_
- [Legendarios: Wrath of the Rain God](https://readinglist.school/book/legendarios-wrath-of-the-rain-god) by Karla Arenas Valenti _(Grades 3–6)_
- [Little Women](https://readinglist.school/book/little-women) by Louisa May Alcott _(1300L · Grades 7–10)_
- [Long Way Down](https://readinglist.school/book/long-way-down) by Jason Reynolds _(720L · Grades 7–12)_
- [Loser](https://readinglist.school/book/loser) by Jerry Spinelli _(Grades 4–6)_
- [Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All](https://readinglist.school/book/magnolia-wu-unfolds-it-all) by Chanel Miller _(Grades 3–6)_
- [Make Way for Ducklings](https://readinglist.school/book/make-way-for-ducklings) by Robert McCloskey _(730L · Grades K–3)_
- [Maniac Magee](https://readinglist.school/book/maniac-magee) by Jerry Spinelli _(820L · Grades 4–7)_
- [Merci Suárez Changes Gears](https://readinglist.school/book/merci-suarez-changes-gears) by Meg Medina _(700L · Grades 4–7)_
- [Mercy Watson to the Rescue](https://readinglist.school/book/mercy-watson-to-the-rescue) by Kate DiCamillo _(450L · Grades K–3)_
- [Mick Harte Was Here](https://readinglist.school/book/mick-harte-was-here) by Barbara Park _(Grades 5–8)_
- [Mr. Popper's Penguins](https://readinglist.school/book/mr-poppers-penguins) by Richard Atwater · Florence Atwater _(910L · 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)_
- [Never Thought I'd End Up Here](https://readinglist.school/book/never-thought-id-end-up-here) by Ann Liang _(Grades 7–12)_
- [Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy](https://readinglist.school/book/nic-blake-manifestor-prophecy) by Angie Thomas _(Grades 3–7)_
- [Night in the City](https://readinglist.school/book/night-in-the-city) by Julie Downing _(Grades K–2)_
- [Not Quite Dead Yet](https://readinglist.school/book/not-quite-dead-yet) by Holly Jackson _(Grades 7–12)_
- [Nothing Else But Miracles](https://readinglist.school/book/nothing-else-but-miracles) by Kate Albus _(Grades 3–7)_
- [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)_
- [One Crazy Summer](https://readinglist.school/book/one-crazy-summer) by Rita Williams-Garcia _(750L · Grades 5–8)_
- [Onyx & Beyond](https://readinglist.school/book/onyx-and-beyond) by Amber McBride _(Grades 3–6)_
- [Operation Final Notice](https://readinglist.school/book/operation-final-notice) by Matthew Landis _(Grades 4–8)_
- [Other Words for Home](https://readinglist.school/book/other-words-for-home) by Jasmine Warga _(930L · Grades 4–7)_
- [Out of My Mind](https://readinglist.school/book/out-of-my-mind) by Sharon M. Draper _(700L · Grades 4–7)_
- [Parachute Kids](https://readinglist.school/book/parachute-kids) by Betty C. Tang _(Grades 3–7)_
- [Picture Purrfect (Bodega Cats #1)](https://readinglist.school/book/picture-purrfect-bodega-cats) by Hilda Eunice Burgos _(Grades 2–5)_
- [Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet](https://readinglist.school/book/planet-omar-accidental-trouble-magnet) by Zanib Mian _(820L · Grades 3–6)_
- [Purple Hibiscus](https://readinglist.school/book/purple-hibiscus) by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie _(920L · Grades 10–12)_
- [Puzzleheart](https://readinglist.school/book/puzzleheart) by Jenn Reese _(Grades 4–8)_
- [Ramona Quimby, Age 8](https://readinglist.school/book/ramona-quimby-age-8) by Beverly Cleary _(860L · Grades 3–5)_
- [Ramona the Pest](https://readinglist.school/book/ramona-the-pest) by Beverly Cleary _(750L · Grades 2–4)_
- [Rascal](https://readinglist.school/book/rascal) by Sterling North _(Grades 5–8)_
- [Rebound](https://readinglist.school/book/rebound) by Kwame Alexander _(780L · Grades 5–8)_
- [Refugee](https://readinglist.school/book/refugee) by Alan Gratz _(800L · Grades 5–9)_
- [Rewind](https://readinglist.school/book/rewind-graff) by Lisa Graff _(Grades 4–8)_
- [Roll for Initiative](https://readinglist.school/book/roll-for-initiative) by Jaime Formato _(Grades 4–8)_
- [Ruby Lost and Found](https://readinglist.school/book/ruby-lost-and-found) by Christina Li _(Grades 6–9)_
- [Sal and Gabi Break the Universe](https://readinglist.school/book/sal-and-gabi-break-the-universe) by Carlos Hernandez _(Grades 4–7)_
- [Sarah, Plain and Tall](https://readinglist.school/book/sarah-plain-and-tall) by Patricia MacLachlan _(660L · Grades 3–5)_
- [Shiloh](https://readinglist.school/book/shiloh) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor _(890L · Grades 3–6)_
- [Shut Up, This Is Serious](https://readinglist.school/book/shut-up-this-is-serious) by Carolina Ixta _(Grades 9–12)_
- [So B. It](https://readinglist.school/book/so-b-it) by Sarah Weeks _(Grades 5–8)_
- [Something Like Home](https://readinglist.school/book/something-like-home) by Andrea Beatriz Arango _(Grades 6–8)_
- [Stand Up, Yumi Chung](https://readinglist.school/book/stand-up-yumi-chung) by Jessica Kim _(Grades 4–7)_
- [Stone Fox](https://readinglist.school/book/stone-fox) by John Reynolds Gardiner _(550L · Grades 3–5)_
- [Stuart Little](https://readinglist.school/book/stuart-little) by E.B. White _(920L · Grades 3–5)_
- [Stuck in Neutral](https://readinglist.school/book/stuck-in-neutral) by Terry Trueman _(Grades 7–10)_
- [Stuntboy, In-Between Time](https://readinglist.school/book/stuntboy-in-between-time) by Jason Reynolds _(Grades 3–6)_
- [Summer of the Monkeys](https://readinglist.school/book/summer-of-the-monkeys) by Wilson Rawls _(Grades 4–7)_
- [Surviving the Applewhites](https://readinglist.school/book/surviving-the-applewhites) by Stephanie S. Tolan _(Grades 5–8)_
- [Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing](https://readinglist.school/book/tales-of-a-fourth-grade-nothing) by Judy Blume _(470L · Grades 2–5)_
- [The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events #1)](https://readinglist.school/book/the-bad-beginning) by Lemony Snicket _(1010L · Grades 4–7)_
- [The Best School Year Ever](https://readinglist.school/book/the-best-school-year-ever) by Barbara Robinson _(Grades 3–6)_
- [The Boxcar Children](https://readinglist.school/book/the-boxcar-children) by Gertrude Chandler Warner _(490L · Grades 2–4)_
- [The Color Purple](https://readinglist.school/book/the-color-purple) by Alice Walker _(670L · Grades 9–12)_
- [The Crossover](https://readinglist.school/book/the-crossover) by Kwame Alexander _(750L · Grades 5–8)_
- [The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time](https://readinglist.school/book/the-curious-incident-of-the-dog-in-the-night-time) by Mark Haddon _(1090L · Grades 8–12)_
- [The Cursed Moon](https://readinglist.school/book/the-cursed-moon) by Angela Cervantes _(Grades 3–6)_
- [The Dollhouse Murders](https://readinglist.school/book/the-dollhouse-murders) by Betty Ren Wright _(Grades 4–7)_
- [The Firefly Summer](https://readinglist.school/book/the-firefly-summer) by Morgan Matson _(Grades 3–7)_
- [The Glass Menagerie](https://readinglist.school/book/the-glass-menagerie) by Tennessee Williams _(Grades 11–12)_
- [The Grapes of Wrath](https://readinglist.school/book/the-grapes-of-wrath) by John Steinbeck _(680L · Grades 10–12)_
- [The Hate U Give](https://readinglist.school/book/the-hate-u-give) by Angie Thomas _(590L · Grades 9–12)_
- [The Joy Luck Club](https://readinglist.school/book/the-joy-luck-club) by Amy Tan _(930L · Grades 9–12)_
- [The Labors of Hercules Beal](https://readinglist.school/book/the-labors-of-hercules-beal) by Gary D. Schmidt _(Grades 3–7)_
- [The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell](https://readinglist.school/book/the-land-of-stories-the-wishing-spell) by Chris Colfer _(Grades 3–7)_
- [The Last Hope in Hopetown](https://readinglist.school/book/the-last-hope-in-hopetown) by Maria Tureaud _(Grades 6–8)_
- [The Last Straw](https://readinglist.school/book/diary-of-a-wimpy-kid-the-last-straw) by Jeff Kinney _(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 Lost Heir](https://readinglist.school/book/wings-of-fire-the-lost-heir) by Tui T. Sutherland _(Grades 3–7)_
- [The Lost Year](https://readinglist.school/book/the-lost-year) by Katherine Marsh _(Grades 6–8)_
- [The One and Only Ruby](https://readinglist.school/book/the-one-and-only-ruby) by Katherine Applegate _(Grades 2–5)_
- [The Outsiders](https://readinglist.school/book/the-outsiders) by S.E. Hinton _(750L · Grades 7–9)_
- [The Partition Project](https://readinglist.school/book/the-partition-project) by Saadia Faruqi _(Grades 4–8)_
- [The Pearl](https://readinglist.school/book/the-pearl) by John Steinbeck _(1010L · Grades 6–9)_
- [The Poet X](https://readinglist.school/book/the-poet-x) by Elizabeth Acevedo _(800L · Grades 8–12)_
- [The Reappearance of Rachel Price](https://readinglist.school/book/the-reappearance-of-rachel-price) by Holly Jackson _(Grades 7–12)_
- [The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise](https://readinglist.school/book/the-remarkable-journey-of-coyote-sunrise) by Dan Gemeinhart _(Grades 5–8)_
- [The Season of Styx Malone](https://readinglist.school/book/the-season-of-styx-malone) by Kekla Magoon _(510L · Grades 3–7)_
- [The Secret Life of Bees](https://readinglist.school/book/the-secret-life-of-bees) by Sue Monk Kidd _(840L · Grades 9–11)_
- [The Sherlock Society](https://readinglist.school/book/the-sherlock-society) by James Ponti _(Grades 4–8)_
- [The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants](https://readinglist.school/book/the-sisterhood-of-the-traveling-pants) by Ann Brashares _(Grades 7–10)_
- [The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman](https://readinglist.school/book/the-tenth-mistake-of-hank-hooperman) by Gennifer Choldenko _(Grades 6–9)_
- [The Thing About Leftovers](https://readinglist.school/book/the-thing-about-leftovers) by C.C. Payne _(Grades 4–7)_
- [The Trumpet of the Swan](https://readinglist.school/book/the-trumpet-of-the-swan) by E.B. White _(Grades 3–6)_
- [The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street](https://readinglist.school/book/the-vanderbeekers-of-141st-street) by Karina Yan Glaser _(Grades 3–6)_
- [The War I Finally Won](https://readinglist.school/book/the-war-i-finally-won) by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley _(Grades 5–8)_
- [The War That Saved My Life](https://readinglist.school/book/the-war-that-saved-my-life) by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley _(580L · Grades 4–7)_
- [The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963](https://readinglist.school/book/the-watsons-go-to-birmingham-1963) by Christopher Paul Curtis _(1000L · Grades 5–8)_
- [The Wild Robot](https://readinglist.school/book/the-wild-robot) by Peter Brown _(740L · Grades 4–6)_
- [The Wild Robot Escapes](https://readinglist.school/book/the-wild-robot-escapes) by Peter Brown _(Grades 3–6)_
- [The Witching Wind](https://readinglist.school/book/the-witching-wind) by Natalie Lloyd _(Grades 3–6)_
- [The Wrong Way Home](https://readinglist.school/book/the-wrong-way-home) by Kate O'Shaughnessy _(Grades 4–8)_
- [Three Times Lucky](https://readinglist.school/book/three-times-lucky) by Sheila Turnage _(Grades 4–7)_
- [Wait Till Helen Comes](https://readinglist.school/book/wait-till-helen-comes) by Mary Downing Hahn _(Grades 4–7)_
- [Walk Two Moons](https://readinglist.school/book/walk-two-moons) by Sharon Creech _(770L · Grades 5–7)_
- [When Sea Becomes Sky](https://readinglist.school/book/when-sea-becomes-sky) by Gillian McDunn _(Grades 3–6)_
- [When Stars Are Scattered](https://readinglist.school/book/when-stars-are-scattered) by Victoria Jamieson _(Grades 5–8)_
- [Where the Mountain Meets the Moon](https://readinglist.school/book/where-the-mountain-meets-the-moon) by Grace Lin _(810L · Grades 4–7)_
- [Where the Red Fern Grows](https://readinglist.school/book/where-the-red-fern-grows) by Wilson Rawls _(700L · Grades 4–7)_
- [Wildful](https://readinglist.school/book/wildful) by Kengo Kurimoto _(Grades 4–8)_
- [Willa of the Wood](https://readinglist.school/book/willa-of-the-wood) by Robert Beatty _(Grades 4–7)_
- [Wonder](https://readinglist.school/book/wonder) by R.J. Palacio _(790L · Grades 3–7)_

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