Cover of Missing May

Missing May

by Cynthia Rylant

Assigned across 2 curriculum lists

On reading-award lists:Newbery MedalBoston Globe–Horn Book Award

Missing May by Cynthia Rylant is assigned in US schools at grades 4–9. It appears across 2 curriculum references, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.

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

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Grade range
Grades 4–9
Pages
100
Reading time
about 1h 50m (est.)
First published
1992
Genre
Children's
ISBN-13
9780440408659

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

More formats & details

Other formats on Amazon: Kindle · Audiobook

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About this book

After the death of the aunt who has raised her, 12-year-old Summer and her uncle leave their W. Va. trailer in search of the strength to go on living.

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Why widely assigned

This Children's title, typically at grades 4–9. Written in the 1990s; cited across 2 curriculum frameworks.

Where this book is assigned

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Common questions

What grade level is Missing May?
Missing May is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 4–9. 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 Missing May?
It takes about 1h 50m to read Missing May (100 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 110 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign Missing May?
Missing May appears on reading lists for Boston Globe–Horn Book Award, Newbery Medal. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is Missing May banned in schools?
Missing May 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

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 4–9 — drawn from state ELA frameworks and AP/IB syllabi citing this book.
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
No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
Seasonal / contextual tags
Tagged for: award-winner, read-aloud.

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