Cover of Fish in a Tree

Fish in a Tree

by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt is assigned in US schools at grades 4–7, with a Lexile measure of 550L. It appears across 5 curriculum references and 4 states, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.

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

Lexile
550L
Grade range
Grades 4–7
Difficulty for grade
Below the grade 4–5 band (740–1010L)
Age range
Ages 9–12
Pages
304
Reading time
about 5h 35m (est.)
First published
2015
Genre
Middle Grade Fiction
ISBN-13
9780142426425

Reading difficulty: At 550L, Fish in a Tree reads below the typical 740–1010L text-complexity range for 4th 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

Sixth-grader Ally has hidden her dyslexia for years by acting out and switching schools, until a perceptive new teacher recognizes how her mind works and helps her see her own intelligence. Lynda Mullaly Hunt's novel reframes a learning difference as a different kind of brilliance. A grades 4-7 classroom favorite, it is used for units on empathy, learning differences, and self-worth.

Why widely assigned

This Middle Grade Fiction title, reads at early-reader complexity, typically at grades 4–7. Written in the 2010s; pairs with curriculum units on disability and friendship; cited across 5 curriculum frameworks.

Themes

disability · friendship · school · resilience · bullying

Content notes

bullying

Where this book is assigned

Similar grade-level books

See all books like Fish in a Tree→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Common questions

What grade level is Fish in a Tree?
Fish in a Tree is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 4–7, with a Lexile measure of 550L. 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 Fish in a Tree?
Fish in a Tree has a Lexile measure of 550L 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 Fish in a Tree?
It takes about 5h 35m to read Fish in a Tree (304 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 335 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
Is Fish in a Tree hard to read for 4th grade?
At 550L, Fish in a Tree reads below the typical 740–1010L text-complexity range for 4th 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 Fish in a Tree?
Fish in a Tree appears on reading lists for Garden State Children's Book Award, Great Lakes Great Books Award, Great Stone Face Book Award, and 2 others. 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
550L — sourced from MetaMetrics’ Lexile Hub.
Grade band
Grades 4–7 — drawn from state ELA frameworks and AP/IB syllabi citing this book.
Curriculum alignment
Cited in 5 curricula on this site (see “Where assigned” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence
Cited in 4 states ELA frameworks or DOE list (see citations above).
Removal / banning records
No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
Seasonal / contextual tags
Tagged for: award-winner, book-club.