Cover of The False Prince

The False Prince

by Jennifer A. Nielsen · Grades 5–9 · Middle Grade Fantasy

The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen is on US reading lists at grades 5–9. It appears on 5 lists: 5 book-award lists, across 5 states. Every citation below links to the primary source.

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Before you buy: Ages 10–14 · Grades 5–9 · 342 pages. The button opens the hardcover edition (ISBN 9781407135298). If the class uses a set edition or translation, match its ISBN first.

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Among the most widely assigned — 5 curriculum lists · 5 states

#86 most-assigned book in America — on school reading lists in 5 states (2026-07-13 study of 13,258 assignments).

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:Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book AwardCalifornia Young Reader MedalLouisiana Readers' Choice AwardsArizona Grand Canyon Reader Award+1 more

This page shows where The False Prince 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 5–9
Age range
Ages 10–14
Pages
342
Reading time
about 6h 15m (est.)
First published
2012
Genre
Middle Grade Fantasy
ISBN-13
9781407135298

Sources: grade range from the cited lists below, last checked 2026-07-07; 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 (5)
On award reading lists

and 1 more in where it is taught

Catalog record
First published 2012 · 342 pages (edition lengths vary) (source: how we source book data)

Similar grade-level books

See all books like The False Prince→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why widely assigned

This middle grade fantasy title is typically read at grades 5–9. Written in the 2010s; pairs with curriculum units on identity and adventure; cited on 5 lists: 5 book-award lists.

Themes

identity · adventure · power · loyalty · courage

Where this book is recommended

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Common questions

What grade level is The False Prince?
The False Prince is listed for grades 5–9. It appears on 5 state book-award lists across 5 states. Exact placement varies by school and district.
How long does it take to read The False Prince?
It takes about 6h 15m to read The False Prince (342 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 375 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign The False Prince?
The False Prince appears on reading lists for Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award, California Young Reader Medal, Louisiana Readers' Choice Awards, and 2 others. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is The False Prince banned in schools?
The False Prince 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 The False Prince explore?
Central themes in The False Prince include identity, adventure, power, loyalty, courage.

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 5–9 — drawn from the state book-award lists citing this book.
Curriculum alignment
Cited in 5 curricula on this site (see “Where recommended” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence
On state book-award lists in 5 states (see citations above).
Removal / banning records
No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
Seasonal / contextual tags
Tagged for: book-club.

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