
The Cursed Moon
by Angela Cervantes · Grades 3–6 · Horror
The Cursed Moon by Angela Cervantes is on US reading lists at grades 3–6. It appears on 3 lists: 3 book-award lists, across 3 states. Every citation below links to the primary source.
Before you buy: Ages 8–12 · Grades 3–6 · 165 pages. Content notes: scary scenes. The button opens the hardcover edition (ISBN 9781338814033). If the class uses a set edition or translation, match its ISBN first.
Listen free on Audiblestarts instantlyAudible trial: new members only. As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases and membership trials at no extra cost to you.
Widely assigned — 3 curriculum lists · 3 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).
This page shows where The Cursed Moon 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 3–6
- Age range
- Ages 8–12
- Pages
- 165
- Reading time
- about 3 hours (est.)
- First published
- 2023
- Genre
- Horror
- ISBN-13
- 9781338814033
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.
Good fit for grade 3?
If you have read it with a child or a class in this grade, tell other parents and teachers. One tap, no account.
New to these terms? Reading levels by grade
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.
More like this
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.
City of GhostsVictoria SchwabAlso about family · on 2 reading lists
Grades 4–7
Check price on Amazon →
The Ghost of Fossil GlenCynthia C. DeFeliceAlso about ghosts · on 6 reading lists
Grades 3–8 · 175 pages
Check price on Amazon →
The Ghost's GravePeg KehretAlso about ghosts · on 3 reading lists
Grades 3–8 · 210 pages
Check price on Amazon →
Horror at the Haunted HousePeg KehretAlso about ghosts · on 1 reading list
Grades 4–6 · 132 pages
Check price on Amazon →
FerrisKate DiCamilloAlso about family · on 5 reading lists
Grades 3–6
Check price on Amazon →
Dear Mr. HenshawBeverly ClearyAlso about family · on 4 reading lists
Grades 4–6 · 142 pages
Check price on Amazon →
RascalSterling NorthAlso about family · on 4 reading lists
Grades 5–8 · 210 pages
Check price on Amazon →
Summer of the MonkeysWilson RawlsAlso about family · on 4 reading lists
Grades 4–7 · 283 pages
Check price on Amazon →
Gregor the OverlanderSuzanne CollinsAlso about family · on 3 reading lists
Grades 4–7
Check price on Amazon →
Sal and Gabi Break the UniverseCarlos HernandezAlso about family · on 3 reading lists
Grades 4–7
Check price on Amazon →
Surviving the ApplewhitesStephanie S. TolanAlso about family · on 3 reading lists
Grades 5–8
Check price on Amazon →
The Sherlock SocietyJames PontiAlso about family · on 3 reading lists
Grades 4–8 · 368 pages
Check price on Amazon →
About this book
Book facts and sources (3)
- On award reading lists
- Sunshine State Young Readers Award (source: floridamediaed.org)
- South Carolina Children's Book Award (source: studysc.org)
- William Allen White Children's Book Award (source: wawchildrensbookaward.com)
- Catalog record
- First published 2023 · 165 pages (edition lengths vary) (source: how we source book data)
Similar grade-level books
The GiverLois Lowry · 760L
The Hunger GamesSuzanne Collins · 810L
HatchetGary Paulsen · 1020L
Charlotte's WebE.B. White · 680L
See all books like The Cursed Moon→ — matched on theme + reading level.
Why widely assigned
This horror title is typically read at grades 3–6. Written in the 2020s; pairs with curriculum units on fear and family; cited on 3 lists: 3 book-award lists.
Content notes
scary scenes
Where this book is recommended
South Carolina Children's Book Award
- recommended·3rd grade · South Carolinasource: 2025-2026 South Carolina Children's Book Award Nominees (South Carolina Association of School Librarians / studySC)
- recommended·4th grade · South Carolinasource: 2025-2026 South Carolina Children's Book Award Nominees (South Carolina Association of School Librarians / studySC)
- recommended·5th grade · South Carolinasource: 2025-2026 South Carolina Children's Book Award Nominees (South Carolina Association of School Librarians / studySC)
Sunshine State Young Readers Award
- recommended·3rd grade · Floridasource: Sunshine State Young Readers Award past winners, 2025 winner (grades 3-5)
- recommended·4th grade · Floridasource: Sunshine State Young Readers Award past winners, 2025 winner (grades 3-5)
- recommended·5th grade · Floridasource: Sunshine State Young Readers Award past winners, 2025 winner (grades 3-5)
William Allen White Children's Book Award
- recommended·6th grade · Kansassource: William Allen White Children's Book Award (Emporia State University) — 2026 winner (6-8)
- recommended·7th grade · Kansassource: William Allen White Children's Book Award (Emporia State University) — 2026 winner (6-8)
- recommended·8th grade · Kansassource: William Allen White Children's Book Award (Emporia State University) — 2026 winner (6-8)
Was this page helpful?
Common questions
- What grade level is The Cursed Moon?
- The Cursed Moon is listed for grades 3–6. It appears on 3 state book-award lists across 3 states, from grade 3 to grade 8. Exact placement varies by school and district.
- How long does it take to read The Cursed Moon?
- It takes about 3 hours to read The Cursed Moon (165 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 180 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
- What curricula assign The Cursed Moon?
- The Cursed Moon appears on reading lists for South Carolina Children's Book Award, Sunshine State Young Readers Award, William Allen White Children's Book Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
- Is The Cursed Moon banned in schools?
- The Cursed Moon 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 The Cursed Moon explore?
- Central themes in The Cursed Moon include fear, family, ghosts.
Why this book is on this list
How we classifyHide
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 3–6 — drawn from the state book-award lists citing this book.
- Curriculum alignment
- Cited in 3 curricula on this site (see “Where recommended” above for primary-source links).
- State-level evidence
- On state book-award lists in 3 states (see citations above).
- Removal / banning records
- No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
- Seasonal / contextual tags
- Tagged for: book-club.