Stone Fox
by John Reynolds Gardiner
- Lexile
- 550L
- Grade range
- Grades 3–5
- Age range
- Ages 8–11
- Pages
- 96
- First published
- 1980
- Genre
- Middle Grade Fiction
- ISBN-13
- 9780064401326
About this book
Ten-year-old Little Willy enters a Wyoming dog sled race to win $500 to save the family farm, up against the legendary Native American musher Stone Fox. Gardiner's short novel has a devastating ending and is a fixture of 3rd-5th grade read-alouds.
Themes
- family
- determination
- sacrifice
- loss
Content notes
- death of a beloved animal
- poverty
Common Sense Media recommends age 8+.
Where this book is assigned
Common Core State Standards (ELA)
- recommended· 4th gradesource: CCSS ELA Appendix B, grades 4-5 exemplar
Similar grade-level books
Common questions
- What grade level is Stone Fox?
- Stone Fox is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 3–5, with a Lexile measure of 550L. 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 Stone Fox?
- Stone Fox has a Lexile measure of 550L according to MetaMetrics. Lexile measures text complexity, not content maturity — check the grade range and content notes separately for age-appropriateness.
- What curricula assign Stone Fox?
- Stone Fox appears on reading lists for Common Core State Standards (ELA). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
- Is Stone Fox banned in schools?
- Stone Fox 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 Stone Fox explore?
- Central themes in Stone Fox include family, determination, sacrifice, loss. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.