High/Low Books for Middle School and High School Kids

Hi-lo (high-interest, low readability) books are designed to engage struggling readers by exploring complex, age-appropriate themes at a lower reading level. They typically feature simple sentences, controlled vocabulary, lower page counts, and short chapters.

Updated June 17, 2026
S
Sussex County Library System (NJ) Sussex County Library System (NJ)
This is your list in printable form. Simply print this page using your browser's print command.

High/Low Books for Middle School and High School Kids

Hi-lo (high-interest, low readability) books are designed to engage struggling readers by exploring complex, age-appropriate themes at a lower reading level. They typically feature simple sentences, controlled vocabulary, lower page counts, and short chapters.

Drag items up and down to your preferred order then select the "Save Order" button.
Dropped! /
Kuipers, Alice,
Paper Book
Dex is dropped onto a deserted tropical island to be a player in a social media competition. Dex is one of six contestants on Dropped!, an internet reality show. He's glad to escape his real life after being dumped by his girlfriend, Lola, and destroying his social life. He and the other...
Everything, everything
Yoon, Nicola
Paper Book
New York Times Bestseller My disease is as rare as it is famous. It's a form of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency, but basically, I'm allergic to the world. I don't leave my house, have not left my house in fifteen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse,...
Outta Here
Beddia, Lea
Paper Book
Outta Here is the story of a lively and imaginative small-town teen living with a mom whose pain medication has led to addiction, leaving little money for basics--like food. Elise's best friend and her sympathetic teachers offer what help they can, but there's only so...
Those Pink Mountain nights /
Ferguson, Jenny,
Paper Book
In her remarkable second novel following her Governor General's Award-winning debut, The Summer of Bitter and Sweet, Jen Ferguson writes about the hurt of a life stuck in past tense, the hum of connections that cannot be severed, and one week in a small, snowy town that changes everything. <...
Find this list online

https://librarian.syndetics.com/syndeticsunbound/lp/352.580/list/4607

Library staff! You can create and contribute to lists. Contact your catalog administrator or log in here.