Shiloh
by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor is assigned in US schools at grades 3–6, with a Lexile measure of 890L. Every citation below links to the primary source.
This page shows where Shiloh is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.
- Lexile
- 890L
- Grade range
- Grades 3–6
- Difficulty for grade
- Above the grade 2–3 band (420–820L)
- Age range
- Ages 8–12
- Pages
- 160
- Reading time
- about 2h 55m (est.)
- First published
- 1991
- Genre
- Realistic Fiction
- ISBN-13
- 9781416939009
Reading difficulty: At 890L, Shiloh reads above the typical 420–820L text-complexity range for 3rd grade (Common Core Appendix A) — a stretch text that may need scaffolding for the youngest assigned readers.
Where to find this book
Other formats on Amazon: Kindle · Audiobook
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About this book
Eleven-year-old Marty Preston finds a mistreated beagle on his walk home in rural West Virginia and must decide whether to return him to his abusive owner or hide him. Winner of the 1992 Newbery Medal and widely assigned in 3rd-6th grade units on moral decision-making and rural life.
Why widely assigned
This Realistic Fiction title, reads at middle-grade prose complexity, typically at grades 3–6. Written in the 1990s; pairs with curriculum units on animal welfare and morality.
Content notes
animal abuse · alcoholism (mentioned)
Common Sense Media recommends age 9+.
Where this book is assigned
No curriculum assignments on file yet.
Similar grade-level books
The GiverLois Lowry · 760L
The Hunger GamesSuzanne Collins · 810L
Charlotte's WebE.B. White · 680L
MatildaRoald Dahl · 840L
See all books like Shiloh→ — matched on theme + reading level.
Common questions
- What grade level is Shiloh?
- Shiloh is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 3–6, with a Lexile measure of 890L. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
- What is the Lexile level of Shiloh?
- Shiloh has a Lexile measure of 890L according to MetaMetrics. Lexile measures text complexity, not content maturity — check the grade range and content notes separately for age-appropriateness.
- How long does it take to read Shiloh?
- It takes about 2h 55m to read Shiloh (160 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 175 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
- Is Shiloh hard to read for 3rd grade?
- At 890L, Shiloh reads above the typical 420–820L text-complexity range for 3rd grade (Common Core Appendix A) — a stretch text that may need scaffolding for the youngest assigned readers. Lexile measures text complexity, not thematic maturity — check the content notes for age-appropriateness separately.
- Is Shiloh banned in schools?
- Shiloh 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
- 890L — sourced from MetaMetrics’ Lexile Hub.
- Grade band
- Grades 3–6 — drawn from state ELA frameworks and AP/IB syllabi citing this book.
- Curriculum alignment
- Not yet documented in any tracked curriculum.
- 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
- No seasonal or program-specific tags on this book.