Is Hello, Universe hard to read for 3rd grade?

At 690L, Hello, Universe falls within the typical 420–820L text-complexity range for 3rd grade (Common Core Appendix A) — a grade-appropriate reading challenge. Lexile measures text complexity, not thematic maturity — check the content notes for age-appropriateness separately. For more titles like it, see books like Hello, Universe.

What grade level is Hello, Universe?

Hello, Universe is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 3–7, with a Lexile measure of 690L. It appears on 2 school reading lists. Exact placement varies by school and district.

What is the Lexile level of Hello, Universe?

Hello, Universe has a Lexile measure of 690L 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 Hello, Universe?

It takes about 5h 50m to read Hello, Universe (320 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 350 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.

What curricula assign Hello, Universe?

Hello, Universe appears on reading lists for Common Core State Standards (ELA), Newbery Medal. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.

Hello, Universe

Name: Hello, Universe
Availability: InStock
Author: Erin Entrada Kelly
ISBN: 9780062414151

by Erin Entrada Kelly · Grades 3–7 · Middle Grade Fiction

Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly is assigned in US schools at grades 3–7, with a Lexile measure of 690L. It appears on 2 lists: 1 state standards document and 1 book-award list. Every citation below links to the primary source.

Free Audible trial Buy on Amazon

Audiobook: 5 hr 17 min, unabridged, narrated by Ramon de Ocampo and Amielynn Abellera. Audible offers vary by account. Affiliate link.

Formats on Amazon

Free at your library: Libby

Before you buy: Ages 8–12 · Grades 3–7 · Lexile 690L · 320 pages. Content notes: bullying, mild peril (boy in a well) (Common Sense Media: 9+). The button opens the hardcover edition (ISBN 9780062414151). If the class uses a set edition or translation, match its ISBN first.

Prefer an independent bookstore? Buy it on Bookshop.org →

Audible offers vary by account. As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases and membership trials at no extra cost to you. ReadingList also earns a commission from Bookshop.org purchases, which supports independent bookstores.

Assigned across 2 curriculum lists

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:Newbery Medal

This page shows where Hello, Universe 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

Lexile: 690L
Grade range: Grades 3–7See the list:3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th
Difficulty for grade: Within the grade 2–3 band (420–820L)
Age range: Ages 8–12
Pages: 320
Reading time: about 5h 50m (est.)
First published: 2017
Genre: Middle Grade Fiction
ISBN-13: 9780062414151

Its Lexile (690L) is higher than 30% of the 81 books with a Lexile on our cited 4th grade lists.

Sources: Lexile from MetaMetrics as recorded in our catalog (method); grade range from the cited lists below, last checked 2026-06-09; percentile computed from those lists; pages and year from our catalog record (sources); reading time is an estimate at 250 words a minute.

Good fit for grade 3?

If you have read it with a child or a class in this grade, tell other parents and teachers. One tap, no account.

Reading difficulty: At 690L, Hello, Universe falls within the typical 420–820L text-complexity range for 3rd grade (Common Core Appendix A) — a grade-appropriate 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 an Audible trial. Affiliate link · trial for new members.

New to these terms? What is a Lexile level? · Reading levels by grade · What is the Newbery Medal?

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

Book facts and sources (2)

Award won: Newbery Medal, 2018 (source: Wikipedia)
Named in curriculum frameworks: Common Core State Standards (ELA) (source: nysed.gov)
Catalog record: First published 2017 · 320 pages (edition lengths vary) (source: how we source book data)

Similar grade-level books

See all books like Hello, Universe→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why it is assigned

This middle grade fiction title reads at middle-grade prose complexity and is typically read at grades 3–7. Written in the 2010s; pairs with curriculum units on Filipino-American identity and friendship; cited on 2 lists: 1 state standards document and 1 book-award list.

Themes

Filipino-American identity · friendship · neurodivergence (deafness, anxiety) · bullying · rotating narrators

Content notes

bullying · mild peril (boy in a well)

Common Sense Media recommends age 9+.

Where this book is assigned

Did you find what you were looking for?

Common questions

Is Hello, Universe hard to read for 3rd grade?: At 690L, Hello, Universe falls within the typical 420–820L text-complexity range for 3rd grade (Common Core Appendix A) — a grade-appropriate reading challenge. Lexile measures text complexity, not thematic maturity — check the content notes for age-appropriateness separately. For more titles like it, see books like Hello, Universe.
What grade level is Hello, Universe?: Hello, Universe is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 3–7, with a Lexile measure of 690L. It appears on 2 school reading lists. Exact placement varies by school and district.
What is the Lexile level of Hello, Universe?: Hello, Universe has a Lexile measure of 690L 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 Hello, Universe?: It takes about 5h 50m to read Hello, Universe (320 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 350 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign Hello, Universe?: Hello, Universe appears on reading lists for Common Core State Standards (ELA), Newbery Medal. 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: 690L — sourced from MetaMetrics’ Lexile Hub.
Grade band: Grades 3–7 — drawn from the curriculum sources cited on this page.
Curriculum alignment: Cited in 2 curricula 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: Documented as challenged or removed in 1 state per PEN America’s Index of School Book Bans — see the full banned & challenged books list.
Seasonal / contextual tags: Tagged for: award-winner.