Cover of The 5th Wave

The 5th Wave

by Rick Yancey

Assigned across 1 curriculum list

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey is assigned in US schools at grades 6–9. It appears across 1 curriculum reference, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.

This page shows where The 5th Wave 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 6–9
Pages
498
Reading time
about 9h 10m (est.)
First published
2018
Genre
Children's
ISBN-13
9781984814234
Buy on AmazonListen free on Audible

As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases and membership trials at no extra cost to you.

More formats & details

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

"Remarkable, not-to-be-missed-under-any-circumstances."—Entertainment Weekly (Grade A) The Passage meets Ender's Game in an epic new series from award-winning author Rick Yancey. After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one. Now, it's the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth's last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie's only hope for rescuing her brother--or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: be

Similar grade-level books

See all books like The 5th Wave→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why widely assigned

This Children's title, typically at grades 6–9. Written in the 2010s; cited across 1 curriculum framework.

Where this book is assigned

Common questions

What grade level is The 5th Wave?
The 5th Wave is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 6–9. 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 The 5th Wave?
It takes about 9h 10m to read The 5th Wave (498 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 550 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign The 5th Wave?
The 5th Wave appears on reading lists for Young Reader's Choice Award (PNLA). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is The 5th Wave banned in schools?
The 5th Wave 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
Not classified — this book has no published Lexile measure.
Grade band
Grades 6–9 — 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
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
Tagged for: read-aloud.
Buy on AmazonAudible

Affiliate links — as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases & membership trials.