What grade level is The Other Side of Dark?

The Other Side of Dark is listed for grades 6–8. It appears on 2 state book-award lists across 2 states, from grade 3 to grade 8. Exact placement varies by school and district.

How long does it take to read The Other Side of Dark?

It takes about 3h 25m to read The Other Side of Dark (185 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 205 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.

What curricula assign The Other Side of Dark?

The Other Side of Dark appears on reading lists for California Young Reader Medal, Virginia Readers' Choice. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.

Is The Other Side of Dark banned in schools?

The Other Side of Dark 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 Other Side of Dark explore?

Central themes in The Other Side of Dark include detective and mystery stories, mystery and detective stories.

The Other Side of Dark

Name: The Other Side of Dark
Availability: InStock
Author: Joan Lowery Nixon
ISBN: 9780440803232

by Joan Lowery Nixon · Grades 6–8 · Mystery

The Other Side of Dark by Joan Lowery Nixon is on US reading lists at grades 6–8. It appears on 2 lists: 2 book-award lists, across 2 states. Every citation below links to the primary source.

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Before you buy: Ages 11–13 · Grades 6–8 · 185 pages. The button opens the paperback edition (ISBN 9780440803232). If the class uses a set edition or translation, match its ISBN first.

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Assigned across 2 curriculum lists · 2 states

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:California Young Reader Medal Virginia Readers' Choice

This page shows where The Other Side of Dark 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: 185
Reading time: about 3h 25m (est.)
First published: 1986
Genre: Mystery
ISBN-13: 9780440803232

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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About this book

Book facts and sources (2)

On award reading lists: California Young Reader Medal (source: californiayoungreadermedal.org)
Virginia Readers' Choice (source: vslatoday.org)
Catalog record: First published 1986 · 185 pages (edition lengths vary) (source: how we source book data)

Similar grade-level books

See all books like The Other Side of Dark→ — 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 detective and mystery stories and mystery and detective stories; cited on 2 lists: 2 book-award lists.

Themes

detective and mystery stories · mystery and detective stories

Where this book is recommended

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Common questions

What grade level is The Other Side of Dark?: The Other Side of Dark is listed for grades 6–8. It appears on 2 state book-award lists across 2 states, from grade 3 to grade 8. Exact placement varies by school and district.
How long does it take to read The Other Side of Dark?: It takes about 3h 25m to read The Other Side of Dark (185 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 205 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign The Other Side of Dark?: The Other Side of Dark appears on reading lists for California Young Reader Medal, Virginia Readers' Choice. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is The Other Side of Dark banned in schools?: The Other Side of Dark 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 Other Side of Dark explore?: Central themes in The Other Side of Dark include detective and mystery stories, mystery and detective 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 2 curricula on this site (see “Where recommended” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence: On state book-award lists in 2 states (see citations above).
Removal / banning records: No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
Seasonal / contextual tags: Tagged for: book-club.