The Lexile System

I have been assigned to read a book with a lexile rating in excess of 900. Because of this, I have found out how dumb the lexile rating system is. It is a pathetic patchwork filled with fringe and poular books, but little in between. Plus, the comparative ratings are ridiculous. According to the lexile system, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Eldest, sequel to Eragon, is significantly more difficult than any of the Lord of the Rings, the Dune series, and any Tom Clancy book. Clifford the Big Red Dog books are about a third in difficulty to LOTR, Tom Clancys, and Dune. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is only about 100 points above Clifford. In addition, The Prince, by Machiavelli, is more difficult than any of these by a significant amount, despite being a measly 70 pages. It is admittedly difficult in those 70 pages, but its rating places it with works like Wealth of Nations, which is a thousand pages.

In summation of the above thoughts, I am being told that picture books are only slightly less difficult than some classics, a third less difficult than some very difficult books, and that books I read in the fourth grade are more difficult than books I am reading now, and that books with a thousand-page difference are only vaguely different in difficulty.

The lexile system will not be used by anyone I can influence, including myself, until it has undergone major revision. I think it is a poorly made system and disagree with anyone who thinls it useful.

The anti-lexile rating sentiment is now finished.