Cover of Black Brother, Black Brother

Black Brother, Black Brother

by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Black Brother, Black Brother by Jewell Parker Rhodes is assigned in US schools at grades 5–8. It appears across 2 curriculum references and 2 states, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.

This page shows where Black Brother, Black Brother 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
Age range
Ages 10–13
First published
2021
Genre
Realistic Fiction
ISBN-13
9781510109872
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About this book

A powerful coming-of-age story about two brothers - one who presents as white, the other as Black - and the ways they are forced to navigate a world that doesn't treat them equally. Donte wishes he were invisible. As one of the few black boys at his school, he feels as if he is constantly swimming in whiteness. Most of the students don't look like him. They don't like him either. Dubbed the 'Black Brother', Donte's teachers and classmates make it clear they wish he were more like his lighter skinned brother, Dre.

Why widely assigned

This Realistic Fiction title, typically at grades 5–8. Written in the 2020s; pairs with curriculum units on racism and identity; cited across 2 curriculum frameworks.

Themes

racism · identity · justice

Where this book is assigned

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See all books like Black Brother, Black Brother→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Common questions

What grade level is Black Brother, Black Brother?
Black Brother, Black Brother 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.
What curricula assign Black Brother, Black Brother?
Black Brother, Black Brother appears on reading lists for Kentucky Bluegrass Award, Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is Black Brother, Black Brother banned in schools?
Black Brother, Black Brother 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.
What themes does Black Brother, Black Brother explore?
Central themes in Black Brother, Black Brother include racism, identity, justice. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.

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 2 curricula on this site (see “Where assigned” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence
Cited in 2 states ELA frameworks or DOE list (see citations above).
Removal / banning records
No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
Seasonal / contextual tags
Tagged for: book-club.