Cover of Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters

Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters

by Pat McKissack

Assigned across 1 curriculum list

Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters by Pat McKissack is assigned in US schools at grades 4–8. It appears across 1 curriculum reference, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.

This page shows where Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters 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 4–8
Pages
88
Reading time
about 1h 35m (est.)
First published
1994
Genre
Juvenile Fiction
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About this book

The year is 1859, and it's Christmastime on a Virginia Plantation. The slaves are cleaning and setting up the Big House--where their masters live--for the festivities. The Big House is filled with warmth, colorful decorations, and yummy food...but there is talk of war and a sense that times may be changing. In the quarters--where the slaves live--conditions are poor, dirty, and cold, but the slaves are filled with hope for better times ahead, and they sing songs of freedom.Moving deftly between two worlds, this beautifully illustrated book is a historical tale as well as a holiday treat.

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Why widely assigned

This Juvenile Fiction title, typically at grades 4–8. Written in the 1990s; cited across 1 curriculum framework.

Where this book is assigned

Common questions

What grade level is Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters?
Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 4–8. 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 Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters?
It takes about 1h 35m to read Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters (88 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 95 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters?
Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters appears on reading lists for Coretta Scott King Author Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters banned in schools?
Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters 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 4–8 — 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
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: award-winner.
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