What grade level is In the Time of the Drums?

In the Time of the Drums is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades K–3. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.

What curricula assign In the Time of the Drums?

In the Time of the Drums appears on reading lists for Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.

Is In the Time of the Drums banned in schools?

In the Time of the Drums 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.

In the Time of the Drums

Name: In the Time of the Drums
Availability: InStock
Author: Kim L. Siegelson
ISBN: 9780439259781

by Kim L. Siegelson

Assigned across 1 curriculum list

In the Time of the Drums by Kim L. Siegelson is assigned in US schools at grades k–3. It appears across 1 curriculum reference, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.

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

Grade range: Grades K–3
First published: 1999
Genre: Slave insurrections
ISBN-13: 9780439259781

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About this book

Mentu, an American-born slave boy, watches his beloved grandmother, Twi, lead the insurrection at Teakettle Creek of Ibo people arriving from Africa on a slave ship.

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See all books like In the Time of the Drums→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why widely assigned

This Slave insurrections title, typically at grades k–3. Written in the 1990s; cited across 1 curriculum framework.

Where this book is assigned

Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award

Common questions

What grade level is In the Time of the Drums?: In the Time of the Drums is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades K–3. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
What curricula assign In the Time of the Drums?: In the Time of the Drums appears on reading lists for Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is In the Time of the Drums banned in schools?: In the Time of the Drums 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

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 K–3 — 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: Not yet documented in a state-level framework on this site.
Removal / banning records: No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
Seasonal / contextual tags: Tagged for: award-winner, read-aloud.