What grade level is The Fourteenth Goldfish?

The Fourteenth Goldfish is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 4–6. 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 Fourteenth Goldfish?

It takes about 3h 35m to read The Fourteenth Goldfish (195 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 215 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.

What curricula assign The Fourteenth Goldfish?

The Fourteenth Goldfish appears on reading lists for Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.

Is The Fourteenth Goldfish banned in schools?

The Fourteenth Goldfish 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 Fourteenth Goldfish explore?

Central themes in The Fourteenth Goldfish include scientists, aging, grandfathers, family life. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.

The Fourteenth Goldfish

Name: The Fourteenth Goldfish
Availability: InStock
Author: Jennifer L. Holm
ISBN: 9780375870644

by Jennifer L. Holm

Assigned across 1 curriculum list · 1 state

On reading-award lists:Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award

The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm is assigned in US schools at grades 4–6. It appears across 1 curriculum reference and 1 state, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.

This page shows where The Fourteenth Goldfish is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.

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Grade range: Grades 4–6
Age range: Ages 9–11
Pages: 195
Reading time: about 3h 35m (est.)
First published: 2014
Genre: Realistic Fiction
ISBN-13: 9780375870644

More formats & details

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About this book

Eleven-year-old Ellie has never liked change. She misses fifth grade. She misses her old best friend. She even misses her dearly departed goldfish. Then one day a strange boy shows up. He's bossy. He's cranky. And weirdly, he looks a lot like Ellie's grandfather, a scientist who's always been slightly obsessed with immortality. Could this gawky teenager *really* be Grandpa Melvin? Has he finally found the secret to eternal youth? (Book flap)

Similar grade-level books

See all books like The Fourteenth Goldfish→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why widely assigned

This Realistic Fiction title, typically at grades 4–6. Written in the 2010s; pairs with curriculum units on scientists and aging; cited across 1 curriculum framework.

Themes

scientists · aging · grandfathers · family life

Where this book is assigned

Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award

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Common questions

What grade level is The Fourteenth Goldfish?: The Fourteenth Goldfish is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 4–6. 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 Fourteenth Goldfish?: It takes about 3h 35m to read The Fourteenth Goldfish (195 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 215 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign The Fourteenth Goldfish?: The Fourteenth Goldfish appears on reading lists for Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is The Fourteenth Goldfish banned in schools?: The Fourteenth Goldfish 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 Fourteenth Goldfish explore?: Central themes in The Fourteenth Goldfish include scientists, aging, grandfathers, family life. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.

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 4–6 — 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: Cited in 1 state ELA framework or DOE list (see citations above).
Removal / banning records: No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
Seasonal / contextual tags: Tagged for: book-club.