What grade level is The Dark and Deadly Pool?

The Dark and Deadly Pool is listed for grades 6–8. It appears on 1 state book-award list across 1 state. Exact placement varies by school and district.

How long does it take to read The Dark and Deadly Pool?

It takes about 3h 15m to read The Dark and Deadly Pool (179 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 195 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.

What curricula assign The Dark and Deadly Pool?

The Dark and Deadly Pool appears on reading lists for Young Hoosier Book Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.

Is The Dark and Deadly Pool banned in schools?

The Dark and Deadly Pool 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. See the banned books list by state.

What themes does The Dark and Deadly Pool explore?

Central themes in The Dark and Deadly Pool include mystery and detective stories, detective and mystery stories.

The Dark and Deadly Pool

Name: The Dark and Deadly Pool
Availability: InStock
Author: Joan Lowery Nixon
ISBN: 9780440203483

by Joan Lowery Nixon · Grades 6–8 · Mystery

The Dark and Deadly Pool by Joan Lowery Nixon is on US reading lists at grades 6–8. It appears on 1 list: the Young Hoosier Book Award, across 1 state. Every citation below links to the primary source.

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Before you buy: Ages 11–13 · Grades 6–8 · 179 pages. The button opens the print edition (ISBN 9780440203483). If the class uses a set edition or translation, match its ISBN first.

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Assigned across 1 curriculum list · 1 state

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:Young Hoosier Book Award

This page shows where The Dark and Deadly Pool 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 6–8
Age range: Ages 11–13
Pages: 179
Reading time: about 3h 15m (est.)
First published: 1987
Genre: Mystery
ISBN-13: 9780440203483

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 6?

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Similar grade-level books

See all books like The Dark and Deadly Pool→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why it is assigned

This mystery title is typically read at grades 6–8. Written in the 1980s; pairs with curriculum units on mystery and detective stories and detective and mystery stories; cited on the Young Hoosier Book Award.

Themes

mystery and detective stories · detective and mystery stories

Where this book is recommended

Young Hoosier Book Award

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Common questions

What grade level is The Dark and Deadly Pool?: The Dark and Deadly Pool is listed for grades 6–8. It appears on 1 state book-award list across 1 state. Exact placement varies by school and district.
How long does it take to read The Dark and Deadly Pool?: It takes about 3h 15m to read The Dark and Deadly Pool (179 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 195 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign The Dark and Deadly Pool?: The Dark and Deadly Pool appears on reading lists for Young Hoosier Book Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is The Dark and Deadly Pool banned in schools?: The Dark and Deadly Pool 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. See the banned books list by state.
What themes does The Dark and Deadly Pool explore?: Central themes in The Dark and Deadly Pool include mystery and detective stories, detective and mystery stories.

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 6–8 — drawn from the state book-award lists citing this book.
Curriculum alignment: Cited in 1 curriculum on this site (see “Where recommended” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence: On state book-award lists in 1 state (see citations above).
Removal / banning records: No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
Seasonal / contextual tags: Tagged for: book-club.