Cover of A Tale Dark and Grimm

A Tale Dark and Grimm

by Adam Gidwitz · Grades 4–7 · Fantasy

A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz is on US reading lists at grades 4–7. It appears on 4 lists: 4 book-award lists, across 4 states. Every citation below links to the primary source.

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Before you buy: Ages 9–12 · Grades 4–7. The button opens the paperback edition (ISBN 9781101445280). If the class uses a set edition or translation, match its ISBN first.

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Widely assigned — 4 curriculum lists · 4 states

Grade placement varies by school — the median assigned book spans 4 grade levels (83% span three or more, across 13,258 source-cited assignments).

On reading-award lists:Charlotte AwardGreat Stone Face Book AwardKentucky Bluegrass AwardMaryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award

This page shows where A Tale Dark and Grimm is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.

Reading level at a glance

Grade range
Grades 4–7
Age range
Ages 9–12
First published
2010
Genre
Fantasy
ISBN-13
9781101445280

Sources: grade range from the cited lists below, last checked 2026-09-24; pages and year from our catalog record (sources); reading time is an estimate at 250 words a minute.

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About this book

Book facts and sources (4)
On award reading lists
Catalog record
First published 2010 (source: how we source book data)

Similar grade-level books

See all books like A Tale Dark and Grimm→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why widely assigned

This fantasy title is typically read at grades 4–7. Written in the 2010s; pairs with curriculum units on fairy tales and courage; cited on 4 lists: 4 book-award lists.

Themes

fairy tales · courage · siblings

Where this book is recommended

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Common questions

What grade level is A Tale Dark and Grimm?
A Tale Dark and Grimm is listed for grades 4–7. It appears on 4 state book-award lists across 4 states, from grade 4 to grade 8. Exact placement varies by school and district.
What curricula assign A Tale Dark and Grimm?
A Tale Dark and Grimm appears on reading lists for Charlotte Award, Great Stone Face Book Award, Kentucky Bluegrass Award, and 1 others. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is A Tale Dark and Grimm banned in schools?
A Tale Dark and Grimm does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally.
What themes does A Tale Dark and Grimm explore?
Central themes in A Tale Dark and Grimm include fairy tales, courage, siblings.

Why this book is on this list

How we classify

Each dimension below is sourced from a public reference. The full framework is documented on the classification standard page.

Lexile measure
Not classified — this book has no published Lexile measure.
Grade band
Grades 4–7 — drawn from the state book-award lists citing this book.
Curriculum alignment
Cited in 4 curricula on this site (see “Where recommended” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence
On state book-award lists in 4 states (see citations above).
Removal / banning records
No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
Seasonal / contextual tags
Tagged for: book-club.

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