
The Firefly Summer
by Morgan Matson · Grades 3–7 · Middle Grade Fiction
The Firefly Summer by Morgan Matson is on US reading lists at grades 3–7. It appears on 1 list: the South Carolina Children's Book Award, across 1 state. Every citation below links to the primary source.
Before you buy: Ages 8–13 · Grades 3–7 · 432 pages. The button opens the paperback edition (ISBN 9781534493360). 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.
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).
This page shows where The Firefly Summer 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 3–7
- Age range
- Ages 8–13
- Pages
- 432
- Reading time
- about 7h 55m (est.)
- First published
- 2024
- Genre
- Middle Grade Fiction
- ISBN-13
- 9781534493360
Sources: grade range from the cited lists below, last checked 2026-06-09; 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.
The Sherlock SocietyJames PontiAlso about family · on 3 reading lists
Grades 4–8 · 368 pages
Check price on Amazon →
Magnolia Wu Unfolds It AllChanel MillerAlso about family · on 2 reading lists
Grades 3–6 · 160 pages
Check price on Amazon →
The Thing About LeftoversC.C. PayneAlso about family · on 1 reading list
Grades 4–7
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 →
Mr. Popper's PenguinsRichard Atwater · Florence AtwaterAlso about family · on 2 reading lists
910L · Grades 3–5 · 139 pages
Check price on Amazon →
Ramona Quimby, Age 8Beverly ClearyAlso about family · on 2 reading lists
860L · Grades 3–5 · 190 pages
Check price on Amazon →
Stuart LittleE.B. WhiteAlso about family · on 2 reading lists
920L · Grades 3–5 · 131 pages
Check price on Amazon →
RewindLisa GraffAlso about family · on 1 reading list
Grades 4–8 · 257 pages
Check price on Amazon →
The Partition ProjectSaadia FaruqiAlso about family · on 1 reading list
Grades 4–8 · 310 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 →
Similar grade-level books
To Kill a MockingbirdHarper Lee · 870L
The GiverLois Lowry · 760L
The OutsidersS.E. Hinton · 750L
The Diary of a Young GirlAnne Frank · 1080L
See all books like The Firefly Summer→ — matched on theme + reading level.
Why it is assigned
This middle grade fiction title is typically read at grades 3–7. Written in the 2020s; pairs with curriculum units on family and summer; cited on the South Carolina Children's Book Award.
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)
Was this page helpful?
Common questions
- What grade level is The Firefly Summer?
- The Firefly Summer is listed for grades 3–7. It appears on 1 state book-award list across 1 state, from grade 3 to grade 5. Exact placement varies by school and district.
- How long does it take to read The Firefly Summer?
- It takes about 7h 55m to read The Firefly Summer (432 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 475 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
- What curricula assign The Firefly Summer?
- The Firefly Summer appears on reading lists for South Carolina Children's Book Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
- Is The Firefly Summer banned in schools?
- The Firefly Summer 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 Firefly Summer explore?
- Central themes in The Firefly Summer include family, summer, mystery, belonging.
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 3–7 — 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.