Cover of Aliens Are Coming!

Aliens Are Coming!

by Megan McCarthy

Audible trial: new members only. As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases and membership trials at no extra cost to you.

Assigned across 1 curriculum list · 1 state

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:Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania)

Aliens Are Coming! by Megan McCarthy is assigned in US schools at grades 3–6. It appears across 1 curriculum reference and 1 state, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.

This page shows where Aliens Are Coming! is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.

Grade range
Grades 3–6
Age range
Ages 8–11
Pages
34
Reading time
about 35 minutes (est.)
First published
2011
Genre
Realistic Fiction
ISBN-13
9780375835186

New to these terms? Reading levels by grade

More formats & details

Other formats on Amazon: Kindle · Audiobook

As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases and membership trials at no extra cost to you. Pricing, Prime, and trial terms shown on Amazon.

About this book

It was an ordinary night in October 1938 when CBS Radio issued an alarming report -- aliens from the planet Mars had invaded New Jersey! Goggle-eyed Martians (and radio listeners!) abound as Megan McCarthy hilariously uncovers the true story of the ¿War of the Worlds¿ broadcast -- the Halloween prank that duped more than a million Americans. ¿A lighthearted but well-researched glimpse into one of our country¿s quirkier collective moments.¿ An ALA-ALSC Notable Children¿s Book, an IRA-CBC Children¿s Choice, a ¿School Library Journal¿ Best Book of the Year, and a Starred ¿Kirkus Reviews¿.

Similar grade-level books

See all books like Aliens Are Coming!→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why widely assigned

This Realistic Fiction title, typically at grades 3–6. Written in the 2010s; cited across 1 curriculum framework.

Where this book is assigned

Was this page helpful?

Common questions

What grade level is Aliens Are Coming!?
Aliens Are Coming! is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 3–6. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
How long does it take to read Aliens Are Coming!?
It takes about 35 minutes to read Aliens Are Coming! (34 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 35 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign Aliens Are Coming!?
Aliens Are Coming! appears on reading lists for Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is Aliens Are Coming! banned in schools?
Aliens Are Coming! 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.

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 3–6 — drawn from state ELA frameworks and AP/IB syllabi citing this book.
Curriculum alignment
Cited in 1 curriculum on this site (see “Where assigned” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence
Cited in 1 state ELA framework or DOE list (see citations above).
Removal / banning records
No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
Seasonal / contextual tags
Tagged for: book-club.

Keep browsing