What grade level is Clayton Byrd Goes Underground?

Clayton Byrd Goes Underground is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 3–5. 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 Clayton Byrd Goes Underground?

It takes about 3h 15m to read Clayton Byrd Goes Underground (176 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 195 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.

Is Clayton Byrd Goes Underground banned in schools?

Clayton Byrd Goes Underground 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 Clayton Byrd Goes Underground explore?

Central themes in Clayton Byrd Goes Underground include death, grandparent and child, bereavement, grandfathers. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.

Clayton Byrd Goes Underground

Name: Clayton Byrd Goes Underground
Availability: InStock
Author: Rita Williams-Garcia
ISBN: 9781432850531

by Rita Williams-Garcia

Assigned across 1 curriculum list · 1 state

On reading-award lists:Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Award (Louisiana Readers' Choice Awards), Grades 3-5 & Grades 6-8 divisions

Clayton Byrd Goes Underground by Rita Williams-Garcia is assigned in US schools at grades 3–5. 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 Clayton Byrd Goes Underground is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.

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Grade range: Grades 3–5
Age range: Ages 8–10
Pages: 176
Reading time: about 3h 15m (est.)
First published: 2017
Genre: Realistic Fiction
ISBN-13: 9781432850531

More formats & details

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About this book

Feeling most alive when he's playing the blues with his grandfather, Clayton is devastated when his grandfather dies and his mother forbids him from playing music, losses that compel him to run away and join bluesmen on the road.

Similar grade-level books

See all books like Clayton Byrd Goes Underground→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why widely assigned

This Realistic Fiction title, typically at grades 3–5. Written in the 2010s; pairs with curriculum units on death and grandparent and child; cited across 1 curriculum framework.

Themes

death · grandparent and child · bereavement · grandfathers

Where this book is assigned

Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Award (Louisiana Readers' Choice Awards), Grades 3-5 & Grades 6-8 divisions

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Common questions

What grade level is Clayton Byrd Goes Underground?: Clayton Byrd Goes Underground is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 3–5. 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 Clayton Byrd Goes Underground?: It takes about 3h 15m to read Clayton Byrd Goes Underground (176 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 195 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign Clayton Byrd Goes Underground?: Clayton Byrd Goes Underground appears on reading lists for Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Award (Louisiana Readers' Choice Awards), Grades 3-5 & Grades 6-8 divisions. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is Clayton Byrd Goes Underground banned in schools?: Clayton Byrd Goes Underground 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 Clayton Byrd Goes Underground explore?: Central themes in Clayton Byrd Goes Underground include death, grandparent and child, bereavement, grandfathers. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.

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 3–5 — 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.