What grade level is The Mysterious Matter of I. M. Fine?

The Mysterious Matter of I. M. Fine is listed for grades 3–5. 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 Mysterious Matter of I. M. Fine?

It takes about 3h 40m to read The Mysterious Matter of I. M. Fine (201 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 220 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.

What curricula assign The Mysterious Matter of I. M. Fine?

The Mysterious Matter of I. M. Fine appears on reading lists for Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.

Is The Mysterious Matter of I. M. Fine banned in schools?

The Mysterious Matter of I. M. Fine 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 Mysterious Matter of I. M. Fine explore?

Central themes in The Mysterious Matter of I. M. Fine include magic, mystery and detective stories, magic, fiction.

The Mysterious Matter of I. M. Fine

Name: The Mysterious Matter of I. M. Fine
Availability: InStock
Author: Diane Stanley
ISBN: 9780060296193

by Diane Stanley · Grades 3–5 · Fantasy

The Mysterious Matter of I. M. Fine by Diane Stanley is on US reading lists at grades 3–5. It appears on 1 list: the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award, across 1 state. Every citation below links to the primary source.

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Before you buy: Ages 8–10 · Grades 3–5 · 201 pages. The button opens the paperback edition (ISBN 9780060296193). 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:Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award

This page shows where The Mysterious Matter of I. M. Fine 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 3–5
Age range: Ages 8–10
Pages: 201
Reading time: about 3h 40m (est.)
First published: 2001
Genre: Fantasy
ISBN-13: 9780060296193

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.

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See all books like The Mysterious Matter of I. M. Fine→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why it is assigned

This fantasy title is typically read at grades 3–5. Written in the 2000s; pairs with curriculum units on magic and mystery and detective stories; cited on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award.

Themes

magic · mystery and detective stories · magic, fiction

Where this book is recommended

Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award

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Common questions

What grade level is The Mysterious Matter of I. M. Fine?: The Mysterious Matter of I. M. Fine is listed for grades 3–5. 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 Mysterious Matter of I. M. Fine?: It takes about 3h 40m to read The Mysterious Matter of I. M. Fine (201 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 220 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign The Mysterious Matter of I. M. Fine?: The Mysterious Matter of I. M. Fine appears on reading lists for Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is The Mysterious Matter of I. M. Fine banned in schools?: The Mysterious Matter of I. M. Fine 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 Mysterious Matter of I. M. Fine explore?: Central themes in The Mysterious Matter of I. M. Fine include magic, mystery and detective stories, magic, fiction.

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 3–5 — 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.