Cover of Hearts Unbroken

Hearts Unbroken

by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Hearts Unbroken by Cynthia Leitich Smith is assigned in US schools at grades 9–12. 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 Hearts Unbroken 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 9–12
Pages
231
Reading time
about 4h 15m (est.)
First published
2018
Genre
Young Adult
ISBN-13
9781536202007
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

New York Times best-selling author Cynthia Leitich Smith turns to realistic fiction with the thoughtful story of a Native teen navigating the complicated, confusing waters of high school — and first love. When Louise Wolfe’s first real boyfriend mocks and disrespects Native people in front of her, she breaks things off and dumps him over e-mail. It’s her senior year, anyway, and she’d rather spend her time with her family and friends and working on the school newspaper. The editors pair her up with Joey Kairouz, the ambitious new photojournalist, and in no time the paper’s staff find themselves with a major story to cover: the school musical director’s inclusive approach to casting The Wizard of Oz has been provoking backlash in their mostly white, middle-class Kansas town. From the newly

Why widely assigned

This Young Adult title, typically at grades 9–12. Written in the 2010s; cited across 1 curriculum framework.

Where this book is assigned

Similar grade-level books

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

Common questions

What grade level is Hearts Unbroken?
Hearts Unbroken is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 9–12. 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 Hearts Unbroken?
It takes about 4h 15m to read Hearts Unbroken (231 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 255 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign Hearts Unbroken?
Hearts Unbroken appears on reading lists for American Indian Youth Literature Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is Hearts Unbroken banned in schools?
Hearts Unbroken 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 9–12 — 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.