My Horrible Secret

About this book

With the prospect of Camp Hit-a-Homer looming before him, eleven-year-old Warren, whose older brother is a super athlete, resorts to desperate measures to hide the fact that he can neither throw nor catch a ball.

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See all books like My Horrible Secret→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why widely assigned

This Humor title, typically at grades 4–6. Written in the 1980s; pairs with curriculum units on humorous stories and brothers; cited across 1 curriculum framework.

Where this book is assigned

• Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award

  • recommended·4th grade · Arkansassource: Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award — Arkansas's statewide children's-choice reading program (grades 4-6): students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award's published record.
  • recommended·5th grade · Arkansassource: Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award — Arkansas's statewide children's-choice reading program (grades 4-6): students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award's published record.
  • recommended·6th grade · Arkansassource: Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award — Arkansas's statewide children's-choice reading program (grades 4-6): students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award's published record.

Common questions

What grade level is My Horrible Secret?

My Horrible Secret is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 4–6. 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 My Horrible Secret?

It takes about 2h 10m to read My Horrible Secret (119 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 130 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.

What curricula assign My Horrible Secret?

My Horrible Secret appears on reading lists for Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.

Is My Horrible Secret banned in schools?

My Horrible Secret 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.

What themes does My Horrible Secret explore?

Central themes in My Horrible Secret include humorous stories, brothers, baseball stories, schools. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.