Books like Orbiting Jupiter

If you liked Orbiting Jupiter, read Ghost, Mick Harte Was Here, or Stargirl — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt (Realistic Fiction · grades 7–10)? It’s most often read for its themes of fatherhood, loss, and compassion. The 10 titles below are the closest matches in the ReadingList database — each scored on shared themes, shared award lists, 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 7–10 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Orbiting Jupiter

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Why each is a match

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Ghost730L
Both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list (+1 more shared list), same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (5–8). Amazon → books like this →
Mick Harte Was Heregrades 5–8
Both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list (+2 more shared lists), same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (5–8). Amazon → books like this →
Stargirlgrades 6–9
Both on the Grand Canyon Reader Award (Arizona) — formerly the Arizona Young Readers Award list (+1 more shared list), same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (6–9). Amazon → books like this →
The Labors of Hercules Bealgrades 3–7
Is by Gary D. Schmidt, the same author, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
Backlashgrades 3–8
Both on the Grand Canyon Reader Award (Arizona) — formerly the Arizona Young Readers Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
Counting by 7sgrades 2–8
Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8). Amazon → books like this →
Drums, Girls & Dangerous Piegrades 6–9
Both on the Grand Canyon Reader Award (Arizona) — formerly the Arizona Young Readers Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (6–9). Amazon → books like this →
Front Desk640L
Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
Ghost Boys360L
Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon → books like this →
Here Comes the Garbage Bargegrades 2–8
Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Orbiting Jupiter for younger readers (K–2)

Closest matches whose grade range overlaps K–2— same scoring, different audience.

  • Lulu's Mysterious Mission by Judith Viorst · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8).
  • My Explosive Diary by Emily Gale · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8).
  • ¡Vamos! Let's Go Eat by Raúl the Third III · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8).
  • Donut Feed the Squirrels by Mika Song · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8).
  • How to Stay Invisible by Maggie C. Rudd · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8).

Books like Orbiting Jupiter for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

Closest matches whose grade range overlaps 3–5— same scoring, different audience.

  • A Boy Called Bat by Elana K. Arnold · grades 3–5 — Both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list (+1 more shared list), same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2010s).
  • Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo · 610L — Shares themes of loss and both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list (+1 more shared list).
  • Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor · 890L — Both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list (+2 more shared lists) and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
  • The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo · grades 3–6 — Shares themes of loss and both on the Grand Canyon Reader Award (Arizona) — formerly the Arizona Young Readers Award list (+1 more shared list).
  • Ban This Book by Alan Gratz · grades 3–6 — Both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2010s).

Books like Orbiting Jupiter for middle school (grades 6–8)

Closest matches whose grade range overlaps 6–8— same scoring, different audience.

  • Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor · 890L — Both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list (+2 more shared lists) and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
  • The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo · grades 3–6 — Shares themes of loss and both on the Grand Canyon Reader Award (Arizona) — formerly the Arizona Young Readers Award list (+1 more shared list).
  • Ban This Book by Alan Gratz · grades 3–6 — Both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2010s).
  • Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds · 720L — Shares themes of loss, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, and overlapping grades (7–12).
  • Lulu's Mysterious Mission by Judith Viorst · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8).

Books like Orbiting Jupiter for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

Closest matches whose grade range overlaps 9–12— same scoring, different audience.

  • Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds · 720L — Shares themes of loss, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, and overlapping grades (7–12).
  • Posted by John David Anderson · grades 6–9 — Both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (6–9).
  • Romiette and Julio by Sharon M. Draper · grades 7–10 — Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (7–10).
  • Forged by Fire by Sharon M. Draper · grades 7–10 — Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (7–10).
  • Refugee by Alan Gratz · 800L — Both on the Grand Canyon Reader Award (Arizona) — formerly the Arizona Young Readers Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (5–9), and the same era (2010s).

Book data last updated 2026-07-07. Matches are computed from each book’s cited attributes — see the methodology.

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