What grade level is Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key?

Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key is listed for grades 6–8. It appears on 2 state book-award lists across 2 states, from grade 3 to grade 8. Exact placement varies by school and district.

How long does it take to read Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key?

It takes about 2h 50m to read Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key (153 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 170 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.

Is Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key banned in schools?

Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key 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. See the banned books list by state.

What themes does Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key explore?

Central themes in Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key include schools, single-parent families.

Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key

Name: Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key
Availability: InStock
Author: Jack Gantos
ISBN: 9780374336646

by Jack Gantos · Grades 6–8 · Realistic Fiction

Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key by Jack Gantos is on US reading lists at grades 6–8. It appears on 2 lists: 2 book-award lists, across 2 states. Every citation below links to the primary source.

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Before you buy: Ages 11–13 · Grades 6–8 · 153 pages. The button opens the print edition (ISBN 9780374336646). If the class uses a set edition or translation, match its ISBN first.

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Assigned across 2 curriculum lists · 2 states

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:California Young Reader Medal Virginia Readers' Choice

This page shows where Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key 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 6–8
Age range: Ages 11–13
Pages: 153
Reading time: about 2h 50m (est.)
First published: 1998
Genre: Realistic Fiction
ISBN-13: 9780374336646

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 (2)

On award reading lists: California Young Reader Medal (source: californiayoungreadermedal.org)
Virginia Readers' Choice (source: vslatoday.org)
Catalog record: First published 1998 · 153 pages (edition lengths vary) (source: how we source book data)

Similar grade-level books

See all books like Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why it is assigned

This realistic fiction title is typically read at grades 6–8. Written in the 1990s; pairs with curriculum units on schools and single-parent families; cited on 2 lists: 2 book-award lists.

Themes

schools · single-parent families

Where this book is recommended

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Common questions

What grade level is Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key?: Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key is listed for grades 6–8. It appears on 2 state book-award lists across 2 states, from grade 3 to grade 8. Exact placement varies by school and district.
How long does it take to read Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key?: It takes about 2h 50m to read Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key (153 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 170 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key?: Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key appears on reading lists for California Young Reader Medal, Virginia Readers' Choice. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key banned in schools?: Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key 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. See the banned books list by state.
What themes does Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key explore?: Central themes in Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key include schools, single-parent families.

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 6–8 — drawn from the state book-award lists citing this book.
Curriculum alignment: Cited in 2 curricula on this site (see “Where recommended” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence: On state book-award lists in 2 states (see citations above).
Removal / banning records: No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
Seasonal / contextual tags: Tagged for: book-club.