Cover of Curveball

Curveball

by Pablo Cartaya · Grades 3–5 · Middle Grade Graphic Novel

Curveball by Pablo Cartaya is on US reading lists at grades 3–5. It appears on 2 lists: 2 book-award lists, across 2 states. Every citation below links to the primary source.

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Before you buy: Ages 8–11 · Grades 3–5. The button opens the print edition (ISBN 9781368089265). If the class uses a set edition or translation, match its ISBN first.

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Assigned across 2 curriculum lists · 2 states

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:Sunshine State Young Readers AwardMississippi Magnolia Book Award

This page shows where Curveball 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 3–5
Age range
Ages 8–11
First published
2024
Genre
Middle Grade Graphic Novel
ISBN-13
9781368089265

Sources: grade range from the cited lists below, last checked 2026-09-11; pages and year from our catalog record (sources); reading time is an estimate at 250 words a minute.

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Same grade band, chosen by theme and by how many reading lists carry them. As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

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About this book

Book facts and sources (2)
On award reading lists
Catalog record
First published 2024 (source: how we source book data)

Similar grade-level books

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

Why it is assigned

This middle grade graphic novel title is typically read at grades 3–5. Written in the 2020s; pairs with curriculum units on friendship and perseverance; cited on 2 lists: 2 book-award lists.

Themes

friendship · perseverance · family

Where this book is recommended

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Common questions

What grade level is Curveball?
Curveball is listed for grades 3–5. It appears on 2 state book-award lists across 2 states, from grade 3 to grade 8. Exact placement varies by school and district.
What curricula assign Curveball?
Curveball appears on reading lists for Mississippi Magnolia Book Award, Sunshine State Young Readers Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is Curveball banned in schools?
Curveball 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 Curveball explore?
Central themes in Curveball include friendship, perseverance, family.

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 3–5 — drawn from the state 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
On state book-award lists in 2 states (see citations above).
Removal / banning records
No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
Seasonal / contextual tags
Tagged for: book-club.

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