Cover of Echo

Echo

by Pam Muñoz Ryan

Widely assigned — 3 curriculum lists · 2 states

On reading-award lists:Odyssey Award (Best Audiobook)California Young Reader MedalGrand Canyon Reader Award (Arizona) — formerly the Arizona Young Readers Award

Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan is assigned in US schools at grades 5–8, with a Lexile measure of 680L. It appears across 3 curriculum references and 2 states, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.

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

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

Lexile
680L
Grade range
Grades 5–8
Difficulty for grade
Below the grade 4–5 band (740–1010L)
Age range
Ages 10–14
Pages
592
Reading time
about 10h 50m (est.)
First published
2015
Genre
Historical Fiction
ISBN-13
9780439874021

Reading difficulty: At 680L, Echo reads below the typical 740–1010L text-complexity range for 5th grade (Common Core Appendix A). It is an accessible read for the grade — often assigned for its themes and discussion value rather than for 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

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

A single harmonica connects the fates of three children across Nazi Germany, Depression-era Pennsylvania, and wartime California, in a story braided with a fairy-tale frame. Pam Muñoz Ryan's Newbery Honor novel about music, family, and hope is a common grades 5-8 read.

Similar grade-level books

See all books like Echo→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why widely assigned

This Historical Fiction title, reads at middle-grade prose complexity, typically at grades 5–8. Written in the 2010s; pairs with curriculum units on music and family; cited across 3 curriculum frameworks.

Themes

music · family · war · courage

Content notes

war · prejudice

Where this book is assigned

Was this page helpful?

Common questions

What grade level is Echo?
Echo is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 5–8, with a Lexile measure of 680L. 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 Echo?
Echo has a Lexile measure of 680L 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 Echo?
It takes about 10h 50m to read Echo (592 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 650 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
Is Echo hard to read for 5th grade?
At 680L, Echo reads below the typical 740–1010L text-complexity range for 5th grade (Common Core Appendix A). It is an accessible read for the grade — often assigned for its themes and discussion value rather than for reading challenge. Lexile measures text complexity, not thematic maturity — check the content notes for age-appropriateness separately.
What curricula assign Echo?
Echo appears on reading lists for California Young Reader Medal, Grand Canyon Reader Award (Arizona) — formerly the Arizona Young Readers Award, Odyssey Award (Best Audiobook). 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
680L — sourced from MetaMetrics’ Lexile Hub.
Grade band
Grades 5–8 — drawn from state ELA frameworks and AP/IB syllabi citing this book.
Curriculum alignment
Cited in 3 curricula on this site (see “Where assigned” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence
Cited in 2 states ELA frameworks 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, read-aloud.

Keep browsing