Cover of Between Shades Of Gray

Between Shades Of Gray

by Ruta Sepetys

Between Shades Of Gray by Ruta Sepetys is assigned in US schools at grades 4–9. It appears across 2 curriculum references, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.

This page shows where Between Shades Of Gray 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 4–9
Pages
286
Reading time
about 5h 15m (est.)
First published
2011
Genre
Children's
ISBN-13
9780141967677
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About this book

Between Shades of Gray is a haunting and powerful Second World War novel by Ruta Sepetys That morning, my brother's life was worth a pocket watch . . . One night fifteen-year-old Lina, her mother and young brother are hauled from their home by Soviet guards, thrown into cattle cars and sent away. They are being deported to Siberia. An unimaginable and harrowing journey has begun. Lina doesn't know if she'll ever see her father or her friends again. But she refuses to give up hope. Lina hopes for her family. For her country. For her future. For love - first love, with the boy she barely knows but knows she does not want to lose . . . Will hope keep Lina alive? Set in 1941, Between Shades of Gray is an extraordinary and haunting story based on first-hand family accounts and memories from sur

Why widely assigned

This Children's title, typically at grades 4–9. Written in the 2010s; cited across 2 curriculum frameworks.

Where this book is assigned

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Common questions

What grade level is Between Shades Of Gray?
Between Shades Of Gray is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 4–9. 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 Between Shades Of Gray?
It takes about 5h 15m to read Between Shades Of Gray (286 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 315 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign Between Shades Of Gray?
Between Shades Of Gray appears on reading lists for Golden Kite Award, William C. Morris YA Debut Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is Between Shades Of Gray banned in schools?
Between Shades Of Gray 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

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 4–9 — drawn from state ELA frameworks and AP/IB syllabi citing this book.
Curriculum alignment
Cited in 2 curricula on this site (see “Where assigned” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence
Not yet documented in a state-level framework on this site.
Removal / banning records
No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
Seasonal / contextual tags
Tagged for: read-aloud.