What grade level is It's Like This Cat?

It's Like This Cat is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 3–7. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.

How long does it take to read It's Like This Cat?

It takes about 3h 15m to read It's Like This Cat (176 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 195 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.

What curricula assign It's Like This Cat?

It's Like This Cat appears on reading lists for Newbery Medal. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.

Is It's Like This Cat banned in schools?

It's Like This Cat 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.

It's Like This Cat

Name: It's Like This Cat
Availability: InStock
Author: Emily Neville
ISBN: 9781991341983

by Emily Neville

Assigned across 1 curriculum list

It's Like This Cat by Emily Neville is assigned in US schools at grades 3–7. 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 It's Like This Cat 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 3–7
Pages: 176
Reading time: about 3h 15m (est.)
First published: 1963
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN-13: 9781991341983

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About this book

Emily Neville's It's Like This, Cat is a heartfelt and engaging coming-of-age story about a boy, a stray cat, and the lessons they learn together about life, friendship, and growing up. Winner of the Newbery Medal, this timeless novel captures the complexities of adolescence with humor, warmth, and insight. The story follows Dave Mitchell, a 14-year-old navigating the ups and downs of life in 1960s New York City. Caught in the usual struggles with his parents and feeling isolated, Dave's life takes a turn when he adopts a stray cat on the advice of a family friend. The cat, independent and mischievous, becomes Dave's unlikely companion, leading him into unexpected friendships and adventures that change his perspective on the world. Through his bond with Cat and his encounters with people l

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Why widely assigned

This Juvenile Fiction title, typically at grades 3–7. Written in the 1960s; cited across 1 curriculum framework.

Where this book is assigned

Newbery Medal

Common questions

What grade level is It's Like This Cat?: It's Like This Cat is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 3–7. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
How long does it take to read It's Like This Cat?: It takes about 3h 15m to read It's Like This Cat (176 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 195 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign It's Like This Cat?: It's Like This Cat appears on reading lists for Newbery Medal. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is It's Like This Cat banned in schools?: It's Like This Cat 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 3–7 — 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.