What grade level is Sidekicks?

Sidekicks is listed for grades 4–8. It appears on 2 state book-award lists across 2 states, from grade 3 to grade 8. Exact placement varies by school and district.

How long does it take to read Sidekicks?

It takes about 4h 5m to read Sidekicks (224 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 245 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.

What curricula assign Sidekicks?

Sidekicks appears on reading lists for Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award, Rhode Island Children's Book Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.

Is Sidekicks banned in schools?

Sidekicks 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 Sidekicks explore?

Central themes in Sidekicks include graphic novels, superheroes, pets, comic books, strips.

Sidekicks

Name: Sidekicks
Availability: InStock
Author: Dan Santat
ISBN: 9780545372978

by Dan Santat · Grades 4–8 · Graphic Novel

Sidekicks by Dan Santat is on US reading lists at grades 4–8. 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 9–13 · Grades 4–8 · 224 pages. The button opens the print edition (ISBN 9780545372978). 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:Rhode Island Children's Book Award Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award

This page shows where Sidekicks 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 4–8
Age range: Ages 9–13
Pages: 224
Reading time: about 4h 5m (est.)
First published: 2011
Genre: Graphic Novel
ISBN-13: 9780545372978

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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About this book

Book facts and sources (2)

On award reading lists: Rhode Island Children's Book Award (source: olis.ri.gov)
Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award (source: maslmd.org)
Catalog record: First published 2011 · 224 pages (edition lengths vary) (source: how we source book data)

Similar grade-level books

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

Why it is assigned

This graphic novel title is typically read at grades 4–8. Written in the 2010s; pairs with curriculum units on graphic novels and superheroes; cited on 2 lists: 2 book-award lists.

Themes

graphic novels · superheroes · pets · comic books, strips

Where this book is recommended

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Common questions

What grade level is Sidekicks?: Sidekicks is listed for grades 4–8. It appears on 2 state book-award lists across 2 states, from grade 3 to grade 8. Exact placement varies by school and district.
How long does it take to read Sidekicks?: It takes about 4h 5m to read Sidekicks (224 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 245 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign Sidekicks?: Sidekicks appears on reading lists for Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award, Rhode Island Children's Book Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is Sidekicks banned in schools?: Sidekicks 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 Sidekicks explore?: Central themes in Sidekicks include graphic novels, superheroes, pets, comic books, strips.

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 4–8 — 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.