Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe
by Jo Watson Hackl
Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe by Jo Watson Hackl is assigned in US schools at grades 4–7. It appears across 1 curriculum reference 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 Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.
- Grade range
- Grades 4–7
- Age range
- Ages 9–12
- Pages
- 236
- Reading time
- about 4h 20m (est.)
- First published
- 2018
- Genre
- Realistic Fiction
- ISBN-13
- 9780399557392
Where to find this book
New members only · many assigned titles are included with membership.
Other formats on Amazon: Kindle · Audiobook
As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases and membership trials at no extra cost to you. Pricing, Prime, and trial terms shown on Amazon.
About this book
Eleven-year-old Cricket runs away to a Mississippi ghost town to find a hidden artwork her late father once described, surviving in the wild with only a stray dog and her wits. Jo Watson Hackl's lyrical grades 4-7 debut blends survival, art, and grief.
Why widely assigned
This Realistic Fiction title, typically at grades 4–7. Written in the 2010s; pairs with curriculum units on survival and grief; cited across 1 curriculum framework.
Themes
survival · grief · nature · perseverance
Where this book is assigned
Battle of the Books (state reading programs)
Similar grade-level books
The GiverLois Lowry · 760L
The Diary of a Young GirlAnne Frank · 1080L
The OutsidersS.E. Hinton · 750L
To Kill a MockingbirdHarper Lee · 870L
See all books like Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe→ — matched on theme + reading level.
Common questions
- What grade level is Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe?
- Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 4–7. 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 Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe?
- It takes about 4h 20m to read Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe (236 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 260 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
- What curricula assign Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe?
- Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe appears on reading lists for Battle of the Books (state reading programs). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
- Is Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe banned in schools?
- Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe 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 Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe explore?
- Central themes in Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe include survival, grief, nature, perseverance. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.
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
- Not classified — this book has no published Lexile measure.
- Grade band
- Grades 4–7 — drawn from state ELA frameworks and AP/IB syllabi citing this book.
- Curriculum alignment
- Cited in 1 curriculum 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: book-club.