The Treeless Plains
by Glen Rounds
1967
Great fit for 6th grade
Reading level and content both target 4th–8th grade · ages 9–14
Themes include American Westward expansion
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Genre
Themes
- frontier life
- ingenuity
- adaptation to environment
- homesteading
- perseverance
- community
- survival
- American Westward expansion
About this book
This illustrated nonfiction book explains how homesteaders on the Great Plains built sod houses and adapted everyday life to a landscape with few trees. With clear drawings and plainspoken text, Glen Rounds shows the tools, techniques, and ingenuity families used to survive wind, weather, and wide-open spaces. It’s a vivid window into frontier problem-solving that helps readers picture real pioneer life. A strong choice for history units and for kids who like hands-on, how-things-work details.
Setting: Great Plains homesteads (Middle Border), late 1800s American frontier
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Treeless Plains right for my child?
Yes — The Treeless Plains is a great fit for 6th grade. The reading level is AR 6.1, which is typical for 6th grade. The interest level is rated Middle Grades (4–8), meaning the themes and content are designed for ages 9–14 (4th–8th grade). Themes include frontier life, ingenuity, adaptation to environment.
How long does it take to read The Treeless Plains?
At a typical 6th grade reading pace, The Treeless Plains takes around 1.4h to finish. The book has 15,000 words. Slower or faster readers may vary significantly.
Does The Treeless Plains have an AR quiz?
Yes — The Treeless Plains has an AR quiz available, worth 2 points. Your child will need to take and pass the quiz through their school's Accelerated Reader program to earn credit. The quiz is typically 5–20 multiple choice questions about plot, characters, and setting.
What grade level is The Treeless Plains?
The Treeless Plains has an AR reading level of 6.1, which places it at a 6th grade reading difficulty. The interest level is rated Middle Grades (4–8) — this reflects the age-appropriateness of the content and themes, not just the reading difficulty. A strong younger reader may handle the words fine while the themes are aimed at an older audience, or vice versa.