FIREBOAT by the numbers
Maira Kalman · first published 2002 · dataset 2026-10-24
Who it is not for: readers below 4th grade: no school list in our data assigns it earlier.
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Length and reading time
| Pages (dataset edition) | 48 |
|---|---|
| Estimated words | 13,000 |
| Reading time, 300 wpm (fast) | 44 min |
| Reading time, 250 wpm (average adult) | 53 min |
| Reading time, 200 wpm (careful / younger reader) | 1 h 6 min |
| Days at 20 minutes a day | 3 |
At 48 pages, FIREBOAT is longer than 19.1% of the 2,330 books on the reading lists we track whose page count we know (2,809 books are tracked in all). It is shorter than the median book listed for grades 6-8 (212 pages).
FIREBOAT is 48 pages; the median book listed for grades 6-8 is 212 pages and the median of all 2,330 listed books with a page count is 187.
Source: Page counts of 2,330 books on U.S. school reading lists, bookstatistics.com · Dataset snapshot 2026-10-24
Show the numbers
| Book | Pages |
|---|---|
| FIREBOAT | 48 pages |
| Median book listed for grades 6-8 | 212 pages |
| Median of all listed books | 187 pages |
Word counts and reading times are estimates: pages × 275 words, divided by the reading speed. Your edition's page count and your own pace will differ.
Where FIREBOAT is on school reading lists
7 appearances (0.0% of all 20,804 listings in the dataset), drawn from 1 published list, in grades 4th–10th. 7 of the 7 carry a link to the published source document.
| Grade | Listings |
|---|---|
| 4th | 1 |
| 5th | 1 |
| 6th | 1 |
| 7th | 1 |
| 8th | 1 |
| 9th | 1 |
| 10th | 1 |
Sources
- Boston Globe–Horn Book Award winners, via Wikipedia — 2003 Winner · checked 2026-06-19
Questions
How many pages is FIREBOAT?
FIREBOAT by Maira Kalman is 48 pages in the edition recorded in our dataset. Page counts vary by edition and format; at about 275 words per page that is roughly 13,000 words.
How long does it take to read FIREBOAT?
About 53 min at an average adult pace of 250 words per minute (44 min at 300 wpm, 1 h 6 min at 200 wpm). At 20 minutes a day that is about 3 days.
Is FIREBOAT on school reading lists?
Yes. It appears 7 times on the U.S. school reading lists, award lists and curricula in our dataset, in one national curriculum (no single state), most often in grades 6-8. That ranks it #798 of 2,809 listed books.
Related
- FIREBOAT: reading level, grades and similar booksOn ReadingList, our sister site for school reading lists.
- Books of about the same lengthA Bad Case of Stripes (32 pp.) · If You Give a Mouse a Cookie (32 pp.) · The Stranger (32 pp.) · The Very Hungry Caterpillar (26 pp.)
- The most assigned books, rankedAll 2,809 listed books start here.
- Book length statisticsHow long assigned books are, by grade.
Cite this page
<a href="https://bookstatistics.com/books/fireboat-the-heroic-adventures-of-the-john-j-harvey/">FIREBOAT statistics</a>. Book Statistics, a Figures Bureau site. [FIREBOAT statistics](https://bookstatistics.com/books/fireboat-the-heroic-adventures-of-the-john-j-harvey/). Book Statistics, a Figures Bureau site. [url=https://bookstatistics.com/books/fireboat-the-heroic-adventures-of-the-john-j-harvey/]FIREBOAT statistics[/url]. Book Statistics, a Figures Bureau site.