Cover of Sal and Gabi Break the Universe

Sal and Gabi Break the Universe

by Carlos Hernandez

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Widely assigned — 3 curriculum lists · 1 state

Grade placement varies by school — the median assigned book spans 4 grade levels (83% span three or more, across 13,258 source-cited assignments).

On reading-award lists:Andre Norton Award for Middle Grade & Young Adult FictionPura Belpré Author AwardBattle of the Books (state reading programs)

Sal and Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez is assigned in US schools at grades 4–7. It appears across 3 curriculum references and 1 state, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.

This page shows where Sal and Gabi Break the Universe is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.

Grade range
Grades 4–7
Age range
Ages 9–12
First published
2019
Genre
Science Fiction
ISBN-13
9781368023627

New to these terms? Reading levels by grade

More formats & details

Other formats on Amazon: Kindle · Audiobook

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About this book

Sal Vidón can reach into other universes — sometimes to glimpse his late mother, sometimes to drop a raw chicken into a bully's locker. When sharp-eyed Gabi figures him out, the two friends risk tearing a hole in reality. Carlos Hernandez's Pura Belpré-honored grades 4-7 sci-fi is funny, Cuban-American, and big-hearted.

Similar grade-level books

See all books like Sal and Gabi Break the Universe→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why widely assigned

This Science Fiction title, typically at grades 4–7. Written in the 2010s; pairs with curriculum units on friendship and grief; cited across 3 curriculum frameworks.

Themes

friendship · grief · family · humor

Where this book is assigned

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Common questions

What grade level is Sal and Gabi Break the Universe?
Sal and Gabi Break the Universe is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 4–7. It appears on 3 school reading lists across 1 state. Exact placement varies by school and district.
What curricula assign Sal and Gabi Break the Universe?
Sal and Gabi Break the Universe appears on reading lists for Andre Norton Award for Middle Grade & Young Adult Fiction, Battle of the Books (state reading programs), Pura Belpré Author Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is Sal and Gabi Break the Universe banned in schools?
Sal and Gabi Break the Universe has documented removals from at least one public-school district in 1 state (NC) per PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. Policies vary by district.
What themes does Sal and Gabi Break the Universe explore?
Central themes in Sal and Gabi Break the Universe include friendship, grief, family, humor.

Why this book is on this list

How we classify

Each dimension below is sourced from a public reference. The full framework is documented on the classification standard page.

Lexile measure
Not classified — this book has no published Lexile measure.
Grade band
Grades 4–7 — drawn from state ELA frameworks and AP/IB syllabi citing this book.
Curriculum alignment
Cited in 3 curricula on this site (see “Where assigned” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence
Cited in 1 state ELA framework or DOE list (see citations above).
Removal / banning records
Documented as challenged or removed in 1 state per PEN America’s Index of School Book Bans — see the full banned & challenged books list.
Seasonal / contextual tags
Tagged for: award-winner, book-club, read-aloud.

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