Cover of Ash

Ash

by Malinda Lo · Grades 5–12 · Science Fiction & Fantasy

Ash by Malinda Lo is on US reading lists at grades 5–12. It appears on 2 lists: 2 book-award lists. Every citation below links to the primary source.

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Before you buy: Grades 5–12. The button opens the paperback edition (ISBN 9780340988374). If the class uses a set edition or translation, match its ISBN first.

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Assigned across 2 curriculum lists

Grade placement varies by school — the median assigned book spans 4 grade levels (83% span three or more, across 13,258 source-cited assignments).

On reading-award lists:William C. Morris YA Debut AwardAndre Norton Award for Middle Grade & Young Adult Fiction

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

Reading level at a glance

Grade range
Grades 5–12
First published
2009
Genre
Science Fiction & Fantasy
ISBN-13
9780340988374

Sources: grade range from the cited lists below, last checked 2026-06-20; pages and year from our catalog record (sources); reading time is an estimate at 250 words a minute.

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About this book

Book facts and sources (2)
On award reading lists
  • William C. Morris YA Debut Award (source: Wikipedia)
  • Andre Norton Award for Middle Grade & Young Adult Fiction (source: Wikipedia)
Catalog record
First published 2009 (source: how we source book data)

Similar grade-level books

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

Why it is assigned

This science fiction & fantasy title is typically read at grades 5–12. Written in the 2000s; cited on 2 lists: 2 book-award lists.

Where this book is recommended

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Common questions

What grade level is Ash?
Ash is listed for grades 5–12. It appears on 2 book-award lists. Exact placement varies by school and district.
What curricula assign Ash?
Ash appears on reading lists for Andre Norton Award for Middle Grade & Young Adult Fiction, William C. Morris YA Debut Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is Ash banned in schools?
Ash has documented removals from at least one public-school district in 1 state (TX) per PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. Policies vary by district.

Why this book is on this list

How we classify

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 5–12 — drawn from the book-award lists citing this book.
Curriculum alignment
Cited in 2 curricula on this site (see “Where recommended” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence
Not yet documented in a state-level framework on this site.
Removal / banning records
Documented as challenged or removed in 1 state per PEN America’s Index of School Book Bans — see the full banned & challenged books list.
Seasonal / contextual tags
Tagged for: read-aloud.

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