What books are similar to Sal and Gabi Break the Universe?

The 10 closest matches to Sal and Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez on ReadingList include The Girl with the Ghost Machine, Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe, My Teacher Is an Alien, Ferris, and A Royal Conundrum. Each is scored on shared themes (friendship, grief, and family), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 4–7), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.

Are books like Sal and Gabi Break the Universe reading-level appropriate?

Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 4–7), so the picks stay grade-appropriate. See how ReadingList judges text difficulty on the /standard methodology page.

How does ReadingList choose similar books?

Matches are ranked by shared themes, shared award and reading-program lists (two books picked for the same state award were chosen by the same committees for the same readers), same genre, comparable Lexile and grade band, and publication decade — computed from cited public curriculum data, not editorial opinion or AI-generated summaries.

Books like Sal and Gabi Break the Universe

If you liked Sal and Gabi Break the Universe, read The Girl with the Ghost Machine or Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Closest match: The Girl with the Ghost Machine by Lauren DeStefano — shares grief

Get it on Amazon →

Affiliate link: as an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

Looking for books like Sal and Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez (Science Fiction · grades 4–7)? It’s most often read for its themes of friendship, grief, and family. 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 4–7 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

Try it on audio — free. Kids who struggle with the print versions often finish the assigned books by listening.

Listen free on Audiblestarts instantly

New members only · many assigned titles are included with the membership. As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases and membership trials at no extra cost to you.

Why each is a match

Amazon links below are affiliate links — as an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

The Girl with the Ghost Machinegrades 3–8: Shares themes of grief, same genre (Science Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybegrades 4–7: Shares themes of grief, both on the Battle of the Books (state reading programs) list, and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon → books like this →
My Teacher Is an Aliengrades 3–6: Shares themes of friendship and humor, same genre (Science Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →
Ferrisgrades 3–6: Shares themes of family and humor, both on the Battle of the Books (state reading programs) list, and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →
A Royal Conundrumgrades 3–6: Shares themes of friendship and humor, both on the Battle of the Books (state reading programs) list, and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →
The Crossover750L: Shares themes of grief and family and overlapping grades (5–8). Amazon → books like this →
The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrisegrades 5–8: Shares themes of grief and family and overlapping grades (5–8). Amazon → books like this →
The Wild Robot Escapesgrades 3–6: Shares themes of family, same genre (Science Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →
Walk Two Moons770L: Shares themes of friendship, grief, and family and overlapping grades (5–7). Amazon → books like this →
Pie in the Skygrades 3–6: Shares themes of grief and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Sal and Gabi Break the Universe for younger readers (K–2)

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

Dadaji's Paintbrush by Rashmi Sirdeshpande · grades K–3 — Shares themes of grief and family.
Mercy Watson to the Rescue by Kate DiCamillo · 450L — Shares themes of friendship, family, and humor.
The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors by Drew Daywalt · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of humor and overlapping grades (2–8).
Juana and Lucas by Juana Medina · grades K–3 — Both on the Pura Belpré Author Award list and the same era (2010s).
Nova's Ark by Kirk, David · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Science Fiction) and overlapping grades (2–8).

Books like Sal and Gabi Break the Universe for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia · grades 4–7 — Shares themes of grief and overlapping grades (4–7).
The Best School Year Ever by Barbara Robinson · grades 3–6 — Shares themes of family and humor and overlapping grades (3–6).
The Last Straw by Jeff Kinney · grades 4–7 — Shares themes of family and humor and overlapping grades (4–7).
Big Nate: In a Class by Himself by Lincoln Peirce · 500L — Shares themes of friendship and humor and overlapping grades (4–7).
Dog Man Unleashed by Dav Pilkey · grades 3–6 — Shares themes of friendship and humor and overlapping grades (3–6).

Books like Sal and Gabi Break the Universe for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia · grades 4–7 — Shares themes of grief and overlapping grades (4–7).
The Best School Year Ever by Barbara Robinson · grades 3–6 — Shares themes of family and humor and overlapping grades (3–6).
The Last Straw by Jeff Kinney · grades 4–7 — Shares themes of family and humor and overlapping grades (4–7).
Big Nate: In a Class by Himself by Lincoln Peirce · 500L — Shares themes of friendship and humor and overlapping grades (4–7).
Dog Man Unleashed by Dav Pilkey · grades 3–6 — Shares themes of friendship and humor and overlapping grades (3–6).

Books like Sal and Gabi Break the Universe for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz · grades 9–12 — Both on the Battle of the Books (state reading programs) list (+1 more shared list) and the same era (2010s).
The Silence That Binds Us by Joanna Ho · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of grief and both on the Battle of the Books (state reading programs) list.
Burn Down, Rise Up by Vincent Tirado · grades 9–12 — Both on the Battle of the Books (state reading programs) list (+1 more shared list).
Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez · grades 9–12 — Both on the Battle of the Books (state reading programs) list (+1 more shared list).
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green · 850L — Shares themes of grief.

Common questions

What books are similar to Sal and Gabi Break the Universe?: The 10 closest matches to Sal and Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez on ReadingList include The Girl with the Ghost Machine, Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe, My Teacher Is an Alien, Ferris, and A Royal Conundrum. Each is scored on shared themes (friendship, grief, and family), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 4–7), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like Sal and Gabi Break the Universe reading-level appropriate?: Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 4–7), so the picks stay grade-appropriate. See how ReadingList judges text difficulty on the /standard methodology page.
How does ReadingList choose similar books?: Matches are ranked by shared themes, shared award and reading-program lists (two books picked for the same state award were chosen by the same committees for the same readers), same genre, comparable Lexile and grade band, and publication decade — computed from cited public curriculum data, not editorial opinion or AI-generated summaries.

Book data last updated 2026-09-05. Matches are computed from each book’s cited attributes — see the methodology.

← Back to Sal and Gabi Break the Universe