Cover of Summer of the Monkeys

Summer of the Monkeys

by Wilson Rawls · Grades 4–7 · Middle Grade Fiction

Summer of the Monkeys by Wilson Rawls is on US reading lists at grades 4–7. It appears on 4 lists: 4 book-award lists, across 4 states. Every citation below links to the primary source.

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Before you buy: Ages 9–12 · Grades 4–7 · 283 pages. The button opens the paperback edition (ISBN 9780385114509). If the class uses a set edition or translation, match its ISBN first.

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Widely assigned — 4 curriculum lists · 4 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:California Young Reader MedalWilliam Allen White Children's Book AwardOklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book AwardWisconsin Golden Archer Award

This page shows where Summer of the Monkeys 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 4–7
Age range
Ages 9–12
Pages
283
Reading time
about 5h 10m (est.)
First published
1976
Genre
Middle Grade Fiction
ISBN-13
9780385114509

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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About this book

Book facts and sources (4)
On award reading lists
Catalog record
First published 1976 · 283 pages (edition lengths vary) (source: how we source book data)

Similar grade-level books

See all books like Summer of the Monkeys→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why widely assigned

This middle grade fiction title is typically read at grades 4–7. Written in the 1970s; pairs with curriculum units on family and perseverance; cited on 4 lists: 4 book-award lists.

Themes

family · perseverance · nature · animals · growing up

Where this book is recommended

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Common questions

What grade level is Summer of the Monkeys?
Summer of the Monkeys is listed for grades 4–7. It appears on 4 state book-award lists across 4 states, from grade 3 to grade 7. Exact placement varies by school and district.
How long does it take to read Summer of the Monkeys?
It takes about 5h 10m to read Summer of the Monkeys (283 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 310 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign Summer of the Monkeys?
Summer of the Monkeys appears on reading lists for California Young Reader Medal, Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award, William Allen White Children's Book Award, and 1 others. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is Summer of the Monkeys banned in schools?
Summer of the Monkeys 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 Summer of the Monkeys explore?
Central themes in Summer of the Monkeys include family, perseverance, nature, animals, growing up.

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 4–7 — drawn from the state book-award lists citing this book.
Curriculum alignment
Cited in 4 curricula on this site (see “Where recommended” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence
On state book-award lists in 4 states (see citations above).
Removal / banning records
No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
Seasonal / contextual tags
Tagged for: book-club.

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