Cover of Heir Apparent

Heir Apparent

by Vivian Vande Velde · Grades 6–8 · Science Fiction

Heir Apparent by Vivian Vande Velde is on US reading lists at grades 6–8. It appears on 1 list: the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award, across 1 state. Every citation below links to the primary source.

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Before you buy: Ages 11–13 · Grades 6–8 · 315 pages. The button opens the print edition (ISBN 9780152051259). If the class uses a set edition or translation, match its ISBN first.

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Assigned across 1 curriculum list · 1 state

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

This page shows where Heir Apparent 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 6–8
Age range
Ages 11–13
Pages
315
Reading time
about 5h 45m (est.)
First published
2002
Genre
Science Fiction
ISBN-13
9780152051259

Sources: grade range from the cited lists below, last checked 2026-09-24; pages and year from our catalog record (sources); reading time is an estimate at 250 words a minute.

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

Why it is assigned

This science fiction title is typically read at grades 6–8. Written in the 2000s; pairs with curriculum units on virtual reality and realidad virtual; cited on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award.

Themes

virtual reality · realidad virtual · novela juvenil · science fiction

Where this book is recommended

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Common questions

What grade level is Heir Apparent?
Heir Apparent is listed for grades 6–8. It appears on 1 state book-award list across 1 state. Exact placement varies by school and district.
How long does it take to read Heir Apparent?
It takes about 5h 45m to read Heir Apparent (315 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 345 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign Heir Apparent?
Heir Apparent appears on reading lists for Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is Heir Apparent banned in schools?
Heir Apparent 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. See the banned books list by state.
What themes does Heir Apparent explore?
Central themes in Heir Apparent include virtual reality, realidad virtual, novela juvenil, science fiction.

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 6–8 — drawn from the state book-award lists citing this book.
Curriculum alignment
Cited in 1 curriculum on this site (see “Where recommended” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence
On state book-award lists in 1 state (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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