What grade level is Bridge to Terabithia?

Bridge to Terabithia is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 4–6, with a Lexile measure of 810L. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.

What is the Lexile level of Bridge to Terabithia?

Bridge to Terabithia has a Lexile measure of 810L according to MetaMetrics. Lexile measures text complexity, not content maturity — check the grade range and content notes separately for age-appropriateness.

How long does it take to read Bridge to Terabithia?

It takes about 3 hours to read Bridge to Terabithia (163 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 180 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.

Is Bridge to Terabithia hard to read for 4th grade?

At 810L, Bridge to Terabithia falls within the typical 740–1010L text-complexity range for 4th grade (Common Core Appendix A) — a grade-appropriate reading challenge. Lexile measures text complexity, not thematic maturity — check the content notes for age-appropriateness separately.

What curricula assign Bridge to Terabithia?

Bridge to Terabithia appears on reading lists for Common Core State Standards (ELA), Newbery Medal. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.

Bridge to Terabithia

Name: Bridge to Terabithia
Availability: InStock
Author: Katherine Paterson
ISBN: 9780064401845

by Katherine Paterson

Assigned across 2 curriculum lists · 1 state

On reading-award lists:Newbery Medal

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson is assigned in US schools at grades 4–6, with a Lexile measure of 810L. It appears across 2 curriculum references 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 Bridge to Terabithia is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.

Listen free on Audible30-day trial Buy on Amazon

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

Lexile: 810L
Grade range: Grades 4–6
Difficulty for grade: Within the grade 4–5 band (740–1010L)
Age range: Ages 9–12
Pages: 163
Reading time: about 3 hours (est.)
First published: 1977
Genre: Children's Fiction
ISBN-13: 9780064401845

Reading difficulty: At 810L, Bridge to Terabithia falls within the typical 740–1010L text-complexity range for 4th grade (Common Core Appendix A) — a grade-appropriate reading challenge.

Reading below grade level? Kids who struggle with the print version often finish the assigned book by listening — try the audiobook free with a 30-day Audible trial. Affiliate link · trial for new members.

New to these terms? What is a Lexile level? · Reading levels by grade · What is the Newbery Medal?

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

Fifth-grader Jess Aarons, a rural Virginian, befriends Leslie Burke, a new neighbor, and they invent a secret woodland kingdom. Paterson's Newbery-winning novel handles friendship and grief at a middle-grade level and is widely assigned in 4th- and 5th-grade English.

Adapted for screen

Adapted for screen (Film · 2007) · theatrical.

More children's & middle-grade books made into movies

Similar grade-level books

See all books like Bridge to Terabithia→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why widely assigned

This Children's Fiction title, reads at middle-grade prose complexity, typically at grades 4–6. Written in the 1970s; pairs with curriculum units on friendship and imagination; cited across 2 curriculum frameworks.

Themes

friendship · imagination · grief and loss · rural childhood · class · family dynamics

Content notes

death of a child · family tension · grief

Common Sense Media recommends age 10+.

Where this book is assigned

Was this page helpful?

Common questions

What grade level is Bridge to Terabithia?: Bridge to Terabithia is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 4–6, with a Lexile measure of 810L. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
What is the Lexile level of Bridge to Terabithia?: Bridge to Terabithia has a Lexile measure of 810L according to MetaMetrics. Lexile measures text complexity, not content maturity — check the grade range and content notes separately for age-appropriateness.
How long does it take to read Bridge to Terabithia?: It takes about 3 hours to read Bridge to Terabithia (163 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 180 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
Is Bridge to Terabithia hard to read for 4th grade?: At 810L, Bridge to Terabithia falls within the typical 740–1010L text-complexity range for 4th grade (Common Core Appendix A) — a grade-appropriate reading challenge. Lexile measures text complexity, not thematic maturity — check the content notes for age-appropriateness separately.
What curricula assign Bridge to Terabithia?: Bridge to Terabithia appears on reading lists for Common Core State Standards (ELA), Newbery Medal. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.

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: 810L — sourced from MetaMetrics’ Lexile Hub.
Grade band: Grades 4–6 — 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: Cited in 1 state ELA framework or DOE list (see citations above).
Removal / banning records: Documented as challenged or removed in 1 state per PEN America’s Index of School Book Bans — see the full banned & challenged books list.
Seasonal / contextual tags: Tagged for: award-winner, summer.