Dragonwings
by Laurence Yep
Dragonwings by Laurence Yep is assigned in US schools at grades 6–8, with a Lexile measure of 870L. 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 Dragonwings is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.
- Lexile
- 870L
- Grade range
- Grades 6–8
- Difficulty for grade
- Below the grade 6–8 band (925–1185L)
- Age range
- Ages 11–14
- Pages
- 248
- Reading time
- about 4h 35m (est.)
- First published
- 1975
- Genre
- Historical Fiction
- ISBN-13
- 9780064400855
Reading difficulty: At 870L, Dragonwings reads below the typical 925–1185L text-complexity range for 6th grade (Common Core Appendix A). It is an accessible read for the grade — often assigned for its themes and discussion value rather than for reading challenge.
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About this book
In early-1900s San Francisco, a young Chinese boy named Moon Shadow joins his father Windrider, who dreams of building a flying machine. The Newbery Honor novel depicts the Chinese-American immigrant experience, Chinatown life, and the 1906 earthquake. It appears on the Common Core Appendix B grades 6-8 exemplar list.
Why widely assigned
This Historical Fiction title, reads at middle-grade prose complexity, typically at grades 6–8. Written in the 1970s; pairs with curriculum units on immigration and Chinese-American experience; cited across 1 curriculum framework.
Themes
immigration · Chinese-American experience · family · dreams · perseverance
Content notes
period racism · violence
Common Sense Media recommends age 11+.
Where this book is assigned
Similar grade-level books
The Diary of a Young GirlAnne Frank · 1080L
The GiverLois Lowry · 760L
The OutsidersS.E. Hinton · 750L
To Kill a MockingbirdHarper Lee · 870L
See all books like Dragonwings→ — matched on theme + reading level.
Common questions
- What grade level is Dragonwings?
- Dragonwings is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 6–8, with a Lexile measure of 870L. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
- What is the Lexile level of Dragonwings?
- Dragonwings has a Lexile measure of 870L according to MetaMetrics. Lexile measures text complexity, not content maturity — check the grade range and content notes separately for age-appropriateness.
- How long does it take to read Dragonwings?
- It takes about 4h 35m to read Dragonwings (248 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 275 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
- Is Dragonwings hard to read for 6th grade?
- At 870L, Dragonwings reads below the typical 925–1185L text-complexity range for 6th grade (Common Core Appendix A). It is an accessible read for the grade — often assigned for its themes and discussion value rather than for reading challenge. Lexile measures text complexity, not thematic maturity — check the content notes for age-appropriateness separately.
- What curricula assign Dragonwings?
- Dragonwings appears on reading lists for Common Core State Standards (ELA). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Why this book is on this list
Each dimension below is sourced from a public reference. The full framework is documented on the classification standard page.
- Lexile measure
- 870L — sourced from MetaMetrics’ Lexile Hub.
- Grade band
- Grades 6–8 — 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
- 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.