What grade level is The One and Only Ruby?

The One and Only Ruby is listed for grades 2–5. 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 One and Only Ruby?

It takes about 3h 55m to read The One and Only Ruby (215 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 235 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.

What curricula assign The One and Only Ruby?

The One and Only Ruby appears on reading lists for Garden State Children's Book Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.

Is The One and Only Ruby banned in schools?

The One and Only Ruby 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 One and Only Ruby explore?

Central themes in The One and Only Ruby include animals, family, memory, belonging.

The One and Only Ruby

Name: The One and Only Ruby
Availability: InStock
Author: Katherine Applegate
ISBN: 9780063080102

by Katherine Applegate · Grades 2–5 · Middle Grade Fiction

The One and Only Ruby by Katherine Applegate is on US reading lists at grades 2–5. It appears on 1 list: the Garden State Children's Book Award, across 1 state. Every citation below links to the primary source.

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Before you buy: Ages 7–11 · Grades 2–5 · 215 pages. The button opens the print edition (ISBN 9780063080102). 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:Garden State Children's Book Award

This page shows where The One and Only Ruby 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 2–5
Age range: Ages 7–11
Pages: 215
Reading time: about 3h 55m (est.)
First published: 2023
Genre: Middle Grade Fiction
ISBN-13: 9780063080102

Sources: grade range from the cited lists below, last checked 2026-06-10; pages and year from our catalog record (sources); reading time is an estimate at 250 words a minute.

Good fit for grade 2?

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Similar grade-level books

See all books like The One and Only Ruby→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why it is assigned

This middle grade fiction title is typically read at grades 2–5. Written in the 2020s; pairs with curriculum units on animals and family; cited on the Garden State Children's Book Award.

Themes

animals · family · memory · belonging

Where this book is recommended

Garden State Children's Book Award

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Common questions

What grade level is The One and Only Ruby?: The One and Only Ruby is listed for grades 2–5. 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 One and Only Ruby?: It takes about 3h 55m to read The One and Only Ruby (215 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 235 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign The One and Only Ruby?: The One and Only Ruby appears on reading lists for Garden State Children's Book Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is The One and Only Ruby banned in schools?: The One and Only Ruby 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 One and Only Ruby explore?: Central themes in The One and Only Ruby include animals, family, memory, belonging.

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 2–5 — 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.