Restart vs Shiloh — which is harder to read?

Shiloh (Lexile 890) is the harder read — 160L higher than Restart (Lexile 730). Lexile differential ≥150L typically means a 1-2 grade-level difference. Both are in the 3-5 grade band, though.

What grade level is Restart vs Shiloh?

Restart: 5-8 grade range. Shiloh: 3-6 grade range. Both assigned within the 3-5 band. Specific district and curriculum vary; see each book's page for the full assignment history.

Which is more commonly taught, Restart or Shiloh?

Both Restart and Shiloh are in the top-10 most-cited books on ReadingList.school across US school assignments and curricula. Each book's individual page (/book/restart, /book/shiloh) lists every tracked assignment with source citation, so you can see which has broader curriculum reach in your specific region.

Should I read Restart or Shiloh first?

If they're in the same school year, follow the syllabus order (usually chronological by publication or grouped by theme). If reading independently: start with the shorter or lower-Lexile title to build context, then move to the other. Both titles often appear together on AP / IB reading lists as paired study.

Comparison

Restart vs Shiloh

How Restart by Gordon Korman and Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylorcompare on reading level, grade placement, curriculum overlap, and shared themes — derived from primary-source citations on each book’s ReadingList page.

Restart

Gordon Korman

Lexile: 730L
Grades: 5–8
Published: 2017
Pages: 256
Genre: Middle Grade Fiction

Shiloh

Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Lexile: 890L
Grades: 3–6
Published: 1991
Pages: 160
Genre: Realistic Fiction

At a glance

Lexile differential: 160L (Restart: 730L · Shiloh: 890L)
Grade-range overlap: Grades 5–6
Year-of-publication gap: 26 years (2017 vs 1991)
Page-count gap: 96 pages (256 vs 160)
Shared curricula: 22 of 86
Shared themes: 0 of 9

Reading-level difference

The 160-point Lexile gap puts Shiloh roughly a meaningful step harder than Restart. Lexile differences below 50L typically reflect equivalent decoding load (sentence length + word frequency); differences above 200L cross developmental reading-band boundaries. More on how Lexile measures work →

Themes

Only Restart

identity · bullying · memory · redemption

Only Shiloh

animal welfare · morality · family · rural life · courage

Get these books

Restart

Gordon Korman

Where to find this book

Buy on AmazonPrime · 1-click Listen free on Audible30-day trial

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Other formats on Amazon: Kindle · Audiobook

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Shiloh

Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Where to find this book

Buy on AmazonPrime · 1-click Listen free on Audible30-day trial

Audible: new members only · many assigned titles are included with the membership.

Other formats on Amazon: Kindle · Audiobook

As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases and membership trials at no extra cost to you. Pricing, Prime, and trial terms shown on Amazon.

Restart vs Shiloh

Restart

Shiloh

At a glance

Reading-level difference

Curriculum overlap

Themes

Only Restart

Only Shiloh

Get these books

Where to find this book

Where to find this book

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