The Stranger Next Door
by Peg Kehret
Assigned across 1 curriculum list · 1 state
The Stranger Next Door by Peg Kehret is assigned in US schools at grades 3–8. 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 Stranger Next Door 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 3–8
- Age range
- Ages 8–13
- Pages
- 162
- Reading time
- about 3 hours (est.)
- First published
- 2002
- Genre
- Realistic Fiction
- ISBN-13
- 9780142412480
More formats & details
Other formats on Amazon: Kindle · Audiobook
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About this book
A clever cat's heroism helps two twelve-year-old boys become friends after their families, one of which is in a witness protection program, move to neighboring houses in Hilltop, Washington.
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See all books like The Stranger Next Door→ — matched on theme + reading level.
Why widely assigned
This Realistic Fiction title, typically at grades 3–8. Written in the 2000s; pairs with curriculum units on arson and moving, household; cited across 1 curriculum framework.
Themes
arson · moving, household · cats · friendship
Where this book is assigned
Nevada Young Readers' Award
- recommended·3rd grade · Nevadasource: Nevada Young Readers' Award — Nevada's statewide children's-choice reading program (grades 3-83-56-): students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award's published record.
- recommended·4th grade · Nevadasource: Nevada Young Readers' Award — Nevada's statewide children's-choice reading program (grades 3-83-56-): students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award's published record.
- recommended·5th grade · Nevadasource: Nevada Young Readers' Award — Nevada's statewide children's-choice reading program (grades 3-83-56-): students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award's published record.
- recommended·6th grade · Nevadasource: Nevada Young Readers' Award — Nevada's statewide children's-choice reading program (grades 3-83-56-): students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award's published record.
- recommended·7th grade · Nevadasource: Nevada Young Readers' Award — Nevada's statewide children's-choice reading program (grades 3-83-56-): students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award's published record.
- recommended·8th grade · Nevadasource: Nevada Young Readers' Award — Nevada's statewide children's-choice reading program (grades 3-83-56-): students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award's published record.
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Common questions
- What grade level is The Stranger Next Door?
- The Stranger Next Door is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 3–8. 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 Stranger Next Door?
- It takes about 3 hours to read The Stranger Next Door (162 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 180 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
- What curricula assign The Stranger Next Door?
- The Stranger Next Door appears on reading lists for Nevada Young Readers' Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
- Is The Stranger Next Door banned in schools?
- The Stranger Next Door 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 Stranger Next Door explore?
- Central themes in The Stranger Next Door include arson, moving, household, cats, friendship. 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 classifyHide
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 3–8 — 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.