New Kid vs The Tale of Despereaux — which is harder to read?

Lexile data not available for one or both titles in this comparison. See each book's page (/book/new-kid and /book/the-tale-of-despereaux) for grade-range + reading-level estimates from school assignments.

What grade level is New Kid vs The Tale of Despereaux?

New Kid: 4-8 grade range. The Tale of Despereaux: 3-6 grade range. Both assigned within the 3-5 band. Specific district and curriculum vary; see each book's page for the full assignment history.

Which is more commonly taught, New Kid or The Tale of Despereaux?

Both New Kid and The Tale of Despereaux are in the top-10 most-cited books on ReadingList.school across US school assignments and curricula. Each book's individual page (/book/new-kid, /book/the-tale-of-despereaux) lists every tracked assignment with source citation, so you can see which has broader curriculum reach in your specific region.

Should I read New Kid or The Tale of Despereaux first?

If they're in the same school year, follow the syllabus order (usually chronological by publication or grouped by theme). If reading independently: start with the shorter or lower-Lexile title to build context, then move to the other. Both titles often appear together on AP / IB reading lists as paired study.

Comparison

New Kid vs The Tale of Despereaux

How New Kid by Jerry Craft and The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillocompare on reading level, grade placement, curriculum overlap, and shared themes — derived from primary-source citations on each book’s ReadingList page.

New Kid

Jerry Craft

Grades: 4–8
Published: 2019
Pages: 256
Genre: Middle Grade Graphic Novel

The Tale of Despereaux

Kate DiCamillo

Lexile: 670L
Grades: 3–6
Published: 2003
Pages: 270
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy

At a glance

Grade-range overlap: Grades 4–6
Year-of-publication gap: 16 years (2019 vs 2003)
Page-count gap: 14 pages (256 vs 270)
Shared curricula: 48 of 139
Shared themes: 0 of 11

Curriculum overlap

Both books appear in 48 shared curriculum frameworks:

Themes

Only New Kid

race and identity · code-switching · middle school adjustment · graphic narrative · private vs public school · friendship

Only The Tale of Despereaux

courage · forgiveness · light vs dark · fairy-tale form · underdog narrative

Get these books

New Kid

Jerry Craft

Where to find this book

Buy on AmazonPrime · 1-click Listen free on Audiblestarts instantly

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The Tale of Despereaux

Kate DiCamillo

Where to find this book

Buy on AmazonPrime · 1-click Listen free on Audiblestarts instantly

Audible: new members only · many assigned titles are included · a free 30-day trial starts listening right away, with no wait for delivery.

Other formats on Amazon: Kindle · Audiobook

As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases and membership trials at no extra cost to you. Pricing, Prime, and trial terms shown on Amazon.

New Kid

The Tale of Despereaux

At a glance

Curriculum overlap

Themes

Only New Kid

Only The Tale of Despereaux

Get these books

Where to find this book

Where to find this book

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