Cover of One for Sorrow

One for Sorrow

by Mary Downing Hahn

Assigned across 2 curriculum lists · 1 state

On reading-award lists:Mark Twain Readers AwardMark Twain Readers Award

One for Sorrow by Mary Downing Hahn is assigned in US schools at grades 4–6. It appears across 2 curriculum references and 1 state, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.

This page shows where One for Sorrow 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 4–6
Pages
305
Reading time
about 5h 35m (est.)
First published
2017
ISBN-13
9781328699022

New to these terms? Reading levels by grade

More formats & details

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About this book

Against the ominous backdrop of the influenza epidemic of 1918, Annie, a new girl at school, is claimed as best friend by Elsie, a classmate who is a tattletale, a liar, and a thief. Soon Annie makes other friends and finds herself joining them in teasing and tormenting Elsie. Elsie dies from influenza, but then she returns to reclaim Annie's friendship and punish all the girls who bullied her. Young readers who revel in spooky stories will relish this chilling tale of a girl haunted by a vengeful ghost.

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Where this book is assigned

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Common questions

What grade level is One for Sorrow?
One for Sorrow 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 One for Sorrow?
It takes about 5h 35m to read One for Sorrow (305 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 335 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign One for Sorrow?
One for Sorrow appears on reading lists for Mark Twain Readers Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is One for Sorrow banned in schools?
One for Sorrow 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 4–6 — 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
Cited in 1 state ELA framework or DOE list (see citations above).
Removal / banning records
No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
Seasonal / contextual tags
Tagged for: award-winner, book-club.

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