What grade level is The Raft?

The Raft is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 2–3. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.

What curricula assign The Raft?

The Raft appears on reading lists for Common Core State Standards (ELA). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.

Is The Raft banned in schools?

The Raft 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 Raft explore?

Central themes in The Raft include grandmothers, rafting (sports), rivers, animals. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.

The Raft

Name: The Raft
Availability: InStock
Author: Jim LaMarche
ISBN: 9780688139773

by Jim LaMarche

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Assigned across 1 curriculum list

Grade placement varies by school — the median assigned book spans 4 grade levels (83% span three or more, across 13,258 source-cited assignments).

The Raft by Jim LaMarche is assigned in US schools at grades 2–3. It appears across 1 curriculum reference, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.

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

Grade range: Grades 2–3
Age range: Ages 7–8
First published: 2000
Genre: Sports Fiction
ISBN-13: 9780688139773

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About this book

Reluctuant Nicky spends a wonderful summer with Grandma who introduces him to the joy of rafting down the river near her home and watching the animals along the banks.

Similar grade-level books

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

Why widely assigned

This Sports Fiction title, typically at grades 2–3. Written in the 2000s; pairs with curriculum units on grandmothers and rafting (sports); cited across 1 curriculum framework.

Themes

grandmothers · rafting (sports) · rivers · animals

Where this book is assigned

Common Core State Standards (ELA)
- recommended·2nd grade source: CCSS ELA Appendix B, grades 2-3 story exemplar
- recommended·3rd grade source: CCSS ELA Appendix B, grades 2-3 story exemplar

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Common questions

What grade level is The Raft?: The Raft is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 2–3. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
What curricula assign The Raft?: The Raft appears on reading lists for Common Core State Standards (ELA). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is The Raft banned in schools?: The Raft 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 Raft explore?: Central themes in The Raft include grandmothers, rafting (sports), rivers, animals. 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 2–3 — 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: Not yet documented in a state-level framework on this site.
Removal / banning records: No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
Seasonal / contextual tags: No seasonal or program-specific tags on this book.