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

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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).
Mick Harte Was Heregrades 5–8
Shares themes of grief and family and overlapping grades (5–8).
Sal and Gabi Break the Universegrades 4–7
Shares themes of grief and family and overlapping grades (4–7).
The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrisegrades 5–8
Shares themes of grief and family and overlapping grades (5–8).
Merci Suárez Changes Gears700L
Shares themes of family and a close reading level (700L vs 720L).

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