Cover of Deep and Dark and Dangerous

Deep and Dark and Dangerous

by Mary Downing Hahn · Grades 4–6

Deep and Dark and Dangerous by Mary Downing Hahn is on US reading lists at grades 4–6. It appears on 7 lists: 7 book-award lists, across 7 states. Every citation below links to the primary source.

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Before you buy: Grades 4–6. The button opens the paperback edition (ISBN 9780547076454). If the class uses a set edition or translation, match its ISBN first.

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Among the most widely assigned — 8 curriculum lists · 7 states

#65 most-assigned book in America — on school reading lists in 6 states (2026-07-13 study of 13,258 assignments).

Grade placement varies by school — the median assigned book spans 4 grade levels (83% span three or more, across 13,258 source-cited assignments).

This page shows where Deep and Dark and Dangerous 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
First published
2008
ISBN-13
9780547076454

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 (7)
Awards won
  • Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award, 2011 (source: Goodreads)
  • Mark Twain Readers Award, 2010 (source: Wikipedia)
On award reading lists

and 1 more in where it is taught

Catalog record
First published 2008 (source: how we source book data)

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Where this book is recommended

Show 2 more awards & assignments

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Common questions

What grade level is Deep and Dark and Dangerous?
Deep and Dark and Dangerous is listed for grades 4–6. It appears on 8 state book-award lists across 7 states, from grade 3 to grade 8. Exact placement varies by school and district.
What curricula assign Deep and Dark and Dangerous?
Deep and Dark and Dangerous appears on reading lists for Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award, Land of Enchantment Book Award, Mark Twain Readers Award, and 4 others. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is Deep and Dark and Dangerous banned in schools?
Deep and Dark and Dangerous 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

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 8 curricula on this site (see “Where recommended” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence
On state book-award lists in 7 states (see citations above).
Removal / banning records
No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
Seasonal / contextual tags
Tagged for: award-winner, book-club.

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