
Max and the Midknights
by Lincoln Peirce · Grades 3–6 · Fantasy
Max and the Midknights by Lincoln Peirce is on US reading lists at grades 3–6. It appears on 3 lists: 3 book-award lists, across 3 states. Every citation below links to the primary source.
Before you buy: Ages 8–11 · Grades 3–6. The button opens the print edition (ISBN 9781101931097). If the class uses a set edition or translation, match its ISBN first.
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Widely assigned — 3 curriculum lists · 3 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).
This page shows where Max and the Midknights 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
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.
Good fit for grade 3?
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About this book
Book facts and sources (3)
- On award reading lists
- Kentucky Bluegrass Award (source: kasl.us)
- Rhode Island Children's Book Award (source: olis.ri.gov)
- Garden State Children's Book Award (source: njla.org)
- Catalog record
- First published 2019 (source: how we source book data)
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Why widely assigned
This fantasy title is typically read at grades 3–6. Written in the 2010s; pairs with curriculum units on adventure and humor; cited on 3 lists: 3 book-award lists.
Where this book is recommended
Garden State Children's Book Award
- recommended·3rd grade · New Jerseysource: New Jersey Library Association — Garden State Children's Book Award selections (statewide children's-choice program; students vote, since 1977)
- recommended·4th grade · New Jerseysource: New Jersey Library Association — Garden State Children's Book Award selections (statewide children's-choice program; students vote, since 1977)
- recommended·5th grade · New Jerseysource: New Jersey Library Association — Garden State Children's Book Award selections (statewide children's-choice program; students vote, since 1977)
- recommended·6th grade · New Jerseysource: New Jersey Library Association — Garden State Children's Book Award selections (statewide children's-choice program; students vote, since 1977)
Kentucky Bluegrass Award
- recommended·3rd grade · Kentuckysource: Kentucky Association of School Librarians — Kentucky Bluegrass Award Winner's Circle, 2021 winner (3-5)
- recommended·4th grade · Kentuckysource: Kentucky Association of School Librarians — Kentucky Bluegrass Award Winner's Circle (grades 3-5 + 6-8; annual since 1983)
- recommended·5th grade · Kentuckysource: Kentucky Association of School Librarians — Kentucky Bluegrass Award Winner's Circle (grades 3-5 + 6-8; annual since 1983)
- recommended·6th grade · Kentuckysource: Kentucky Association of School Librarians — Kentucky Bluegrass Award Winner's Circle (grades 3-5 + 6-8; annual since 1983)
Rhode Island Children's Book Award
- recommended·3rd grade · Rhode Islandsource: Rhode Island Office of Library & Information Services (OLIS) — Rhode Island Children's Book Award official nominee lists, 2020-2026 cycles (statewide grades 3-5 children's-choice program; students read the annual nominees and vote).
- recommended·4th grade · Rhode Islandsource: Rhode Island Office of Library & Information Services (OLIS) — Rhode Island Children's Book Award official nominee lists, 2020-2026 cycles (statewide grades 3-5 children's-choice program; students read the annual nominees and vote).
- recommended·5th grade · Rhode Islandsource: Rhode Island Office of Library & Information Services (OLIS) — Rhode Island Children's Book Award official nominee lists, 2020-2026 cycles (statewide grades 3-5 children's-choice program; students read the annual nominees and vote).
- recommended·6th grade · Rhode Islandsource: Rhode Island Office of Library & Information Services (OLIS) — Rhode Island Children's Book Award official nominee lists, 2020-2026 cycles (statewide grades 3-5 children's-choice program; students read the annual nominees and vote).
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Common questions
- What grade level is Max and the Midknights?
- Max and the Midknights is listed for grades 3–6. It appears on 3 state book-award lists across 3 states. Exact placement varies by school and district.
- What curricula assign Max and the Midknights?
- Max and the Midknights appears on reading lists for Garden State Children's Book Award, Kentucky Bluegrass Award, Rhode Island Children's Book Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
- Is Max and the Midknights banned in schools?
- Max and the Midknights 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 Max and the Midknights explore?
- Central themes in Max and the Midknights include adventure, humor, identity.
Why this book is on this list
How we classifyHide
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 3–6 — drawn from the state book-award lists citing this book.
- Curriculum alignment
- Cited in 3 curricula on this site (see “Where recommended” above for primary-source links).
- State-level evidence
- On state book-award lists in 3 states (see citations above).
- Removal / banning records
- No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
- Seasonal / contextual tags
- Tagged for: book-club.