Cover of A Sea of Lemon Trees

A Sea of Lemon Trees

by María Dolores Águila

A Sea of Lemon Trees by María Dolores Águila is assigned in US schools at grades 5–8. It appears across 1 curriculum reference, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.

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

Grade range
Grades 5–8
Pages
281
Reading time
about 5h 10m (est.)
First published
2025
ISBN-13
9781250342607
Buy on AmazonListen free on Audible

Where to find this book

Buy on AmazonPrime · 1-clickListen free on Audible30-day trial

Audible: new members only · many assigned titles are included with the membership.

Other formats on Amazon: Kindle · Audiobook

As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases and membership trials at no extra cost to you. Pricing, Prime, and trial terms shown on Amazon.

About this book

Based on the true story of Roberto Alvarez and the Lemon Grove Incident, this vivid and uplifting middle grade debut novel in verse about one young child's courage to stand up for what is right, and the determination of the Mexican community is perfect for fans of ESPERANZA RISING and INSIDE OUT AND BACK AGAIN. ★ John Newbery Honor Book ★ ★ Pura Belpré Honor Book ★ ★ Jane Addams Children's Book Award Winner ★ ★ Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction Winner ★ ★ NCTE Charlotte Huck Children's Book Award Winner ★ ★ 2025 National Book Award Longlist Title ★ ★ New York Times Best Book of 2025 ★ ★ New York Public Library Best Book of 2025 ★ ★ Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2025 ★ WHEN INJUSTICE GROWS, RESISTANCE BLOOMS. Twelve-year-old Roberto Alvarez is the youngest of his siblings, born on

Where this book is assigned

Similar grade-level books

See all books like A Sea of Lemon Trees→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Common questions

What grade level is A Sea of Lemon Trees?
A Sea of Lemon Trees is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 5–8. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
How long does it take to read A Sea of Lemon Trees?
It takes about 5h 10m to read A Sea of Lemon Trees (281 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 310 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign A Sea of Lemon Trees?
A Sea of Lemon Trees appears on reading lists for Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is A Sea of Lemon Trees banned in schools?
A Sea of Lemon Trees does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally.

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
Not classified — this book has no published Lexile measure.
Grade band
Grades 5–8 — drawn from state ELA frameworks and AP/IB syllabi citing this book.
Curriculum alignment
Cited in 1 curriculum on this site (see “Where assigned” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence
Not yet documented in a state-level framework on this site.
Removal / banning records
No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
Seasonal / contextual tags
Tagged for: award-winner.