Cover of Shiloh

Shiloh

by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor is assigned in US schools at grades 3–6, with a Lexile measure of 890L. It appears across 16 curriculum references and 16 states, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.

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

Lexile
890L
Grade range
Grades 3–6
Difficulty for grade
Above the grade 2–3 band (420–820L)
Age range
Ages 8–12
Pages
160
Reading time
about 2h 55m (est.)
First published
1991
Genre
Realistic Fiction
ISBN-13
9781416939009

Reading difficulty: At 890L, Shiloh reads above the typical 420–820L text-complexity range for 3rd grade (Common Core Appendix A) — a stretch text that may need scaffolding for the youngest assigned readers.

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About this book

Eleven-year-old Marty Preston finds a mistreated beagle on his walk home in rural West Virginia and must decide whether to return him to his abusive owner or hide him. Winner of the 1992 Newbery Medal and widely assigned in 3rd-6th grade units on moral decision-making and rural life.

Why widely assigned

This Realistic Fiction title, reads at middle-grade prose complexity, typically at grades 3–6. Written in the 1990s; pairs with curriculum units on animal welfare and morality; cited across 16 curriculum frameworks.

Themes

animal welfare · morality · family · rural life · courage

Content notes

animal abuse · alcoholism (mentioned)

Common Sense Media recommends age 9+.

Where this book is assigned

Similar grade-level books

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

Common questions

What grade level is Shiloh?
Shiloh is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 3–6, with a Lexile measure of 890L. 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 Shiloh?
Shiloh has a Lexile measure of 890L 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 Shiloh?
It takes about 2h 55m to read Shiloh (160 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 175 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
Is Shiloh hard to read for 3rd grade?
At 890L, Shiloh reads above the typical 420–820L text-complexity range for 3rd grade (Common Core Appendix A) — a stretch text that may need scaffolding for the youngest assigned readers. Lexile measures text complexity, not thematic maturity — check the content notes for age-appropriateness separately.
What curricula assign Shiloh?
Shiloh appears on reading lists for Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award, Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award, Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award, and 13 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
890L — sourced from MetaMetrics’ Lexile Hub.
Grade band
Grades 3–6 — drawn from state ELA frameworks and AP/IB syllabi citing this book.
Curriculum alignment
Cited in 16 curricula on this site (see “Where assigned” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence
Cited in 16 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.