Cover of Skeleton Man

Skeleton Man

by Joseph Bruchac · Grades 3–8 · Mystery

Skeleton Man by Joseph Bruchac is on US reading lists at grades 3–8. It appears on 6 lists: 6 book-award lists, across 6 states. Every citation below links to the primary source.

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Before you buy: Ages 8–13 · Grades 3–8 · 114 pages. The button opens the paperback edition (ISBN 9780439439619). If the class uses a set edition or translation, match its ISBN first.

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Among the most widely assigned — 6 curriculum lists · 6 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:Rhode Island Children's Book AwardNebraska Golden Sower AwardCharlie May Simon Children's Book AwardArizona Grand Canyon Reader Award+2 more

This page shows where Skeleton Man 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 3–8
Age range
Ages 8–13
Pages
114
Reading time
about 2h 5m (est.)
First published
2001
Genre
Mystery
ISBN-13
9780439439619

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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Same grade band, chosen by theme and by how many reading lists carry them. As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

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About this book

Book facts and sources (6)
On award reading lists

and 2 more in where it is taught

Catalog record
First published 2001 · 114 pages (edition lengths vary) (source: how we source book data)

Similar grade-level books

See all books like Skeleton Man→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why widely assigned

This mystery title is typically read at grades 3–8. Written in the 2000s; pairs with curriculum units on kidnapping and psychopaths; cited on 6 lists: 6 book-award lists.

Themes

kidnapping · psychopaths · mohawk indians · indians of north america

Where this book is recommended

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Common questions

What grade level is Skeleton Man?
Skeleton Man is listed for grades 3–8. It appears on 6 book-award lists across 6 states. Exact placement varies by school and district.
How long does it take to read Skeleton Man?
It takes about 2h 5m to read Skeleton Man (114 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 125 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign Skeleton Man?
Skeleton Man appears on reading lists for Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award, Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award, Nebraska Golden Sower Award, and 3 others. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is Skeleton Man banned in schools?
Skeleton Man 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 Skeleton Man explore?
Central themes in Skeleton Man include kidnapping, psychopaths, mohawk indians, indians of north america.

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 3–8 — drawn from the book-award lists citing this book.
Curriculum alignment
Cited in 6 curricula on this site (see “Where recommended” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence
On state book-award lists in 6 states (see citations above).
Removal / banning records
No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
Seasonal / contextual tags
Tagged for: book-club, read-aloud.

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