Steelheart
by Brandon Sanderson
Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson is assigned in US schools at grades 7–12. It appears across 1 curriculum reference and 1 state, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.
This page shows where Steelheart 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 7–12
- Age range
- Ages 12–17
- First published
- 2013
- Genre
- Science Fiction
- ISBN-13
- 9780575104181
Where to find this book
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About this book
Ten years ago, Calamity came. It was a burst in the sky that gave ordinary men and women extraordinary powers. The awed public started calling them Epics. But Epics are no friend of man. With incredible gifts came the desire to rule. And to rule man you must crush his wills. Nobody fights the Epics... nobody but the Reckoners. A shadowy group of ordinary humans, they spend their lives studying Epics, finding their weaknesses, and then assassinating them. And David wants in. He wants Steelheart - the Epic who is said to be invincible. The Epic who killed David's father.
Why widely assigned
This Science Fiction title, typically at grades 7–12. Written in the 2010s; pairs with curriculum units on power and revenge; cited across 1 curriculum framework.
Where this book is assigned
Kentucky Bluegrass Award
- 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)
Similar grade-level books
The Great GatsbyF. Scott Fitzgerald · 1070L
1984George Orwell · 1090L
The GiverLois Lowry · 760L
The Diary of a Young GirlAnne Frank · 1080L
See all books like Steelheart→ — matched on theme + reading level.
Common questions
- What grade level is Steelheart?
- Steelheart is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 7–12. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
- What curricula assign Steelheart?
- Steelheart appears on reading lists for Kentucky Bluegrass Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
- Is Steelheart banned in schools?
- Steelheart 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 Steelheart explore?
- Central themes in Steelheart include power, revenge, heroism. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.
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 7–12 — 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
- Cited in 1 state ELA framework or DOE list (see citations above).
- Removal / banning records
- No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
- Seasonal / contextual tags
- Tagged for: book-club.