If you loved
Eighth Grade
Bo Burnham · Film · 2018
What hooked you in Eighth Grade was the raw, unfiltered look at the painful social navigation required to survive middle school.
Books on the same thread
Thirteen Reasons Why
Jay Asher · Book · 2017
Explores: Suicide, Bullying, Mental Health.
Much like Eighth Grade, this narrative captures the crushing weight of adolescent isolation and the lasting impact that peer interactions have on a young person's fragile mental state.
Guts
Raina Telgemeier · Book · 2019
Explores: Anxiety, Childhood, Food Issues.
This graphic memoir mirrors the internal anxiety found in Eighth Grade, offering a vulnerable look at the physical and emotional manifestations of stress during the transition of early adolescence.
Ghost World
Daniel Clowes · Book · 2001
Explores: Teenage angst, Female friendship, Existential dread.
If the social alienation in Eighth Grade resonated with you, you will appreciate this story about the struggle to maintain identity while navigating the awkward shift toward growing up.
Guts
Raina Telgemeier · Book · 2019
Shares a thread with Eighth Grade: coming-of-age.
This story echoes the themes of Eighth Grade by focusing on the quiet, personal courage required to face childhood fears and the reality of growing up with persistent anxiety.
Series on the same thread
Euphoria
Sam Levinson · Series · 2019
Shares a thread with Eighth Grade: Coming-of-Age.
While darker in tone, this show explores the same intersection of digital identity and teenage trauma that makes the protagonist of Eighth Grade feel so authentically overwhelmed by her surroundings.
Sex Education
Laurie Nunn · Series · 2019
Shares 3 threads with Eighth Grade: Social Awkwardness, Self-Discovery, Teen Comedy-Drama.
This series captures the same excruciating social awkwardness seen in Eighth Grade, focusing on the messy, honest process of self-discovery and relationship building during the turbulent high school years.
Big Mouth
Mark Levin · Series · 2017
Explores: Puberty, Adolescence, Awkwardness.
This show takes the visceral embarrassment of puberty depicted in Eighth Grade and turns it into a sharp, honest comedy about the confusing transition into the teenage years.
PEN15
Anna Konkle · Series · 2019
Shares a thread with Eighth Grade: Middle school.
This series is the perfect companion to Eighth Grade, utilizing cringe comedy to perfectly replicate the specific, uncomfortable reality of being an outcast while trying to fit in at school.
Podcasts on the same thread
anything goes with emma chamberlain
emma chamberlain · Podcast · 2026
If the internal monologue of the protagonist in Eighth Grade felt relatable, you will find a similar sense of conversational vulnerability and self-reflective honesty in these weekly thoughts.
Call Her Daddy
Alex Cooper · Podcast · 2026
Explores: female empowerment, sexual autonomy, brutal honesty.
This podcast provides the candid, unfiltered perspective on modern life that mirrors the authentic, sometimes uncomfortable honesty found in Eighth Grade regarding the pressures of growing up today.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Eighth Grade about the transition to high school?
Yes, Eighth Grade follows thirteen-year-old Kayla as she navigates the final week of middle school. The film captures her experiences during this specific period before she begins her transition into high school.
What is the main plot of Eighth Grade?
The plot of Eighth Grade centers on Kayla as she endures the challenges of contemporary suburban adolescence. The story focuses on her final week of middle school, which she describes as a disastrous year, leading up to her start in high school.
Does Eighth Grade focus on the experiences of a middle schooler?
Yes, Eighth Grade is centered on the life of a thirteen-year-old girl named Kayla. The narrative specifically documents her daily life and social struggles throughout the final week of her eighth grade year.
Who directed the movie Eighth Grade?
The movie Eighth Grade was written and directed by Bo Burnham. Released in 2018, the film explores the life of a thirteen-year-old student named Kayla as she concludes her middle school education.