What grade level is Dead Man in Indian Creek?

Dead Man in Indian Creek is listed for grades 4–6. It appears on 2 state book-award lists across 2 states, from grade 4 to grade 8. Exact placement varies by school and district.

How long does it take to read Dead Man in Indian Creek?

It takes about 2h 30m to read Dead Man in Indian Creek (137 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 150 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.

What curricula assign Dead Man in Indian Creek?

Dead Man in Indian Creek appears on reading lists for Virginia Readers' Choice, Young Hoosier Book Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.

Is Dead Man in Indian Creek banned in schools?

Dead Man in Indian Creek 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. See the banned books list by state.

What themes does Dead Man in Indian Creek explore?

Central themes in Dead Man in Indian Creek include mystery and detective stories, detective and mystery stories.

Dead Man in Indian Creek

Name: Dead Man in Indian Creek
Availability: InStock
Author: Mary Downing Hahn
ISBN: 9780395523971

by Mary Downing Hahn · Grades 4–6 · Mystery

Dead Man in Indian Creek by Mary Downing Hahn is on US reading lists at grades 4–6. It appears on 2 lists: 2 book-award lists, across 2 states. Every citation below links to the primary source.

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Before you buy: Ages 9–11 · Grades 4–6 · 137 pages. The button opens the paperback edition (ISBN 9780395523971). If the class uses a set edition or translation, match its ISBN first.

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Assigned across 2 curriculum lists · 2 states

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:Young Hoosier Book Award Virginia Readers' Choice

This page shows where Dead Man in Indian Creek is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.

Reading level at a glance

Grade range: Grades 4–6
Listed most for: 6th grade (2 of 6 cited list rows)
Age range: Ages 9–11
Pages: 137
Reading time: about 2h 30m (est.)
First published: 1990
Genre: Mystery
ISBN-13: 9780395523971

Sources: grade range from the cited lists below, last checked 2026-09-24; pages and year from our catalog record (sources); reading time is an estimate at 250 words a minute.

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About this book

Book facts and sources (2)

On award reading lists: Young Hoosier Book Award (source: cdn.ymaws.com)
Virginia Readers' Choice (source: vslatoday.org)
Catalog record: First published 1990 · 137 pages (edition lengths vary) (source: how we source book data)

Similar grade-level books

See all books like Dead Man in Indian Creek→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why it is assigned

This mystery title is typically read at grades 4–6. Written in the 1990s; pairs with curriculum units on mystery and detective stories and detective and mystery stories; cited on 2 lists: 2 book-award lists.

Themes

mystery and detective stories · detective and mystery stories

Where this book is recommended

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Common questions

What grade level is Dead Man in Indian Creek?: Dead Man in Indian Creek is listed for grades 4–6. It appears on 2 state book-award lists across 2 states, from grade 4 to grade 8. Exact placement varies by school and district.
How long does it take to read Dead Man in Indian Creek?: It takes about 2h 30m to read Dead Man in Indian Creek (137 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 150 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign Dead Man in Indian Creek?: Dead Man in Indian Creek appears on reading lists for Virginia Readers' Choice, Young Hoosier Book Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is Dead Man in Indian Creek banned in schools?: Dead Man in Indian Creek 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. See the banned books list by state.
What themes does Dead Man in Indian Creek explore?: Central themes in Dead Man in Indian Creek include mystery and detective stories, detective and mystery stories.

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 4–6 — drawn from the state book-award lists citing this book.
Curriculum alignment: Cited in 2 curricula on this site (see “Where recommended” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence: On state book-award lists in 2 states (see citations above).
Removal / banning records: No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
Seasonal / contextual tags: Tagged for: book-club.