Million-Dollar Throw
by Mike Lupica · Grades 5–8 · Sports Fiction
Million-Dollar Throw by Mike Lupica is on US reading lists at grades 5–8. It appears on 3 lists: 3 book-award lists, across 3 states. Every citation below links to the primary source.
Before you buy: Ages 10–13 · Grades 5–8. The button opens the paperback edition (ISBN 9781101109052). 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 Million-Dollar Throw 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 5–8
- Age range
- Ages 10–13
- First published
- 2009
- Genre
- Sports Fiction
- ISBN-13
- 9781101109052
Sources: grade range from the cited lists below, last checked 2026-09-04; pages and year from our catalog record (sources); reading time is an estimate at 250 words a minute.
Good fit for grade 4?
If you have read it with a child or a class in this grade, tell other parents and teachers. One tap, no account.
New to these terms? Reading levels by grade
More formats & details
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About this book
Book facts and sources (3)
- On award reading lists
- Alabama Camellia Children's Choice Book Award (source: sites.google.com)
- Blue Hen Book Award (Delaware Library Association, Youth Services Division) — Middle Readers division (source: dla.lib.de.us)
- Kentucky Bluegrass Award (source: kasl.us)
- Catalog record
- First published 2009 (source: how we source book data)
Similar grade-level books
To Kill a MockingbirdHarper Lee · 870L
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The GiverLois Lowry · 760L
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See all books like Million-Dollar Throw→ — matched on theme + reading level.
Why widely assigned
This sports fiction title is typically read at grades 5–8. Written in the 2000s; pairs with curriculum units on football and pressure; cited on 3 lists: 3 book-award lists.
Themes
football · pressure · friendship
Where this book is recommended
Alabama Camellia Children's Choice Book Award
- recommended·4th grade · Alabamasource: Winner, Alabama Camellia Children's Choice Book Award 2010, grades 4-6. Given by the Alabama State Department of Education, Library Media. Winner (not nominee); verified against the award archive 2026-09-04.
- recommended·5th grade · Alabamasource: Winner, Alabama Camellia Children's Choice Book Award 2010, grades 4-6. Given by the Alabama State Department of Education, Library Media. Winner (not nominee); verified against the award archive 2026-09-04.
- recommended·6th grade · Alabamasource: Winner, Alabama Camellia Children's Choice Book Award 2010, grades 4-6. Given by the Alabama State Department of Education, Library Media. Winner (not nominee); verified against the award archive 2026-09-04.
Blue Hen Book Award (Delaware Library Association, Youth Services Division) — Middle Readers division
- recommended·5th grade · Delawaresource: Blue Hen Book Award — Delaware's statewide children's-choice reading program (grades 4-8): students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award's published record.
- recommended·6th grade · Delawaresource: Blue Hen Book Award — Delaware's statewide children's-choice reading program (grades 4-8): students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award's published record.
- recommended·7th grade · Delawaresource: Blue Hen Book Award — Delaware's statewide children's-choice reading program (grades 4-8): students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award's published record.
- recommended·8th grade · Delawaresource: Blue Hen Book Award — Delaware's statewide children's-choice reading program (grades 4-8): students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award's published record.
Kentucky Bluegrass Award
- 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)
- recommended·7th grade · Kentuckysource: Kentucky Association of School Librarians — Kentucky Bluegrass Award Winner's Circle (grades 3-5 + 6-8; annual since 1983)
- recommended·8th grade · Kentuckysource: Kentucky Association of School Librarians — Kentucky Bluegrass Award Winner's Circle (grades 3-5 + 6-8; annual since 1983)
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Common questions
- What grade level is Million-Dollar Throw?
- Million-Dollar Throw is listed for grades 5–8. It appears on 3 state book-award lists across 3 states, from grade 4 to grade 8. Exact placement varies by school and district.
- What curricula assign Million-Dollar Throw?
- Million-Dollar Throw appears on reading lists for Alabama Camellia Children's Choice Book Award, Blue Hen Book Award (Delaware Library Association, Youth Services Division) — Middle Readers division, Kentucky Bluegrass Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
- Is Million-Dollar Throw banned in schools?
- Million-Dollar Throw 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 Million-Dollar Throw explore?
- Central themes in Million-Dollar Throw include football, pressure, friendship.
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 5–8 — 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.