Steelheart
by Brandon Sanderson · Grades 7–12 · Science Fiction
Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson is on US reading lists at grades 7–12. It appears on 2 lists: 2 book-award lists, across 2 states. Every citation below links to the primary source.
Before you buy: Ages 12–17 · Grades 7–12. The button opens the paperback edition (ISBN 9780575104181). 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).
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.
Reading level at a glance
- Grade range
- Grades 7–12
- Age range
- Ages 12–17
- First published
- 2013
- Genre
- Science Fiction
- ISBN-13
- 9780575104181
Sources: grade range from the cited lists below, last checked 2026-08-10; pages and year from our catalog record (sources); reading time is an estimate at 250 words a minute.
Good fit for grade 7?
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New to these terms? Reading levels by grade
More formats & details
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About this book
Book facts and sources (2)
- On award reading lists
- Kentucky Bluegrass Award (source: kasl.us)
- Georgia Peach Book Award for Teen Readers (source: sites.google.com)
- Catalog record
- First published 2013 (source: how we source book data)
Similar grade-level books
To Kill a MockingbirdHarper Lee · 870L
The Great GatsbyF. Scott Fitzgerald · 1070L
Of Mice and MenJohn Steinbeck · 630L
Lord of the FliesWilliam Golding · 770L
See all books like Steelheart→ — matched on theme + reading level.
Why it is assigned
This science fiction title is typically read at grades 7–12. Written in the 2010s; pairs with curriculum units on power and revenge; cited on 2 lists: 2 book-award lists.
Where this book is recommended
Georgia Peach Book Award for Teen Readers
- recommended·9th grade · Georgiasource: Georgia Peach Book Award for Teen Readers — official past winners/nominees roll (Georgia Library Media Association)
- recommended·10th grade · Georgiasource: Georgia Peach Book Award for Teen Readers — official past winners/nominees roll (Georgia Library Media Association)
- recommended·11th grade · Georgiasource: Georgia Peach Book Award for Teen Readers — official past winners/nominees roll (Georgia Library Media Association)
- recommended·12th grade · Georgiasource: Georgia Peach Book Award for Teen Readers — official past winners/nominees roll (Georgia Library Media Association)
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)
- recommended·9th grade · Kentuckysource: Kentucky Bluegrass Award (KBA) — Kentucky's statewide children's-choice reading program: students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award's published record.
- recommended·10th grade · Kentuckysource: Kentucky Bluegrass Award (KBA) — Kentucky's statewide children's-choice reading program: students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award's published record.
- recommended·11th grade · Kentuckysource: Kentucky Bluegrass Award (KBA) — Kentucky's statewide children's-choice reading program: students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award's published record.
- recommended·12th grade · Kentuckysource: Kentucky Bluegrass Award (KBA) — Kentucky's statewide children's-choice reading program: students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award's published record.
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Common questions
- What grade level is Steelheart?
- Steelheart is listed for grades 7–12. It appears on 2 state book-award lists across 2 states. Exact placement varies by school and district.
- What curricula assign Steelheart?
- Steelheart appears on reading lists for Georgia Peach Book Award for Teen Readers, 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.
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 7–12 — 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: award-nominee, book-club.