
The Guardian Test (Legends of Lotus Island #1)
by Christina Soontornvat · Grades 2–5 · Middle Grade Fantasy
The Guardian Test (Legends of Lotus Island #1) by Christina Soontornvat is on US reading lists at grades 2–5. It appears on 3 lists: 3 book-award lists, across 3 states. Every citation below links to the primary source.
Before you buy: Ages 7–11 · Grades 2–5 · 133 pages. The button opens the paperback edition (ISBN 9781338759167). 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 The Guardian Test (Legends of Lotus Island #1) 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 2–5
- Age range
- Ages 7–11
- Pages
- 133
- Reading time
- about 2h 25m (est.)
- First published
- 2023
- Genre
- Middle Grade Fantasy
- ISBN-13
- 9781338759167
Sources: grade range from the cited lists below, last checked 2026-07-03; pages and year from our catalog record (sources); reading time is an estimate at 250 words a minute.
Good fit for grade 2?
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About this book
Book facts and sources (3)
- On award reading lists
- Rhode Island Children's Book Award (source: olis.ri.gov)
- South Carolina Children's Book Award (source: studysc.org)
- Washington Sasquatch Book Award (source: wla.org)
- Catalog record
- First published 2023 · 133 pages (edition lengths vary) (source: how we source book data)
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See all books like The Guardian Test (Legends of Lotus Island #1)→ — matched on theme + reading level.
Why widely assigned
This middle grade fantasy title is typically read at grades 2–5. Written in the 2020s; pairs with curriculum units on fantasy and nature; cited on 3 lists: 3 book-award lists.
Themes
fantasy · nature · courage · friendship
Where this book is recommended
Rhode Island Children's Book Award
- recommended·2nd grade · Rhode Islandsource: Rhode Island Office of Library & Information Services (OLIS) — Rhode Island Children's Book Award official nominee lists, 2020-2026 cycles (statewide grades 3-5 children's-choice program; students read the annual nominees and vote).
- recommended·3rd grade · Rhode Islandsource: Rhode Island Office of Library & Information Services (OLIS) — Rhode Island Children's Book Award official nominee lists, 2020-2026 cycles (statewide grades 3-5 children's-choice program; students read the annual nominees and vote).
- recommended·4th grade · Rhode Islandsource: Rhode Island Office of Library & Information Services (OLIS) — Rhode Island Children's Book Award official nominee lists, 2020-2026 cycles (statewide grades 3-5 children's-choice program; students read the annual nominees and vote).
- recommended·5th grade · Rhode Islandsource: Rhode Island Office of Library & Information Services (OLIS) — Rhode Island Children's Book Award official nominee lists, 2020-2026 cycles (statewide grades 3-5 children's-choice program; students read the annual nominees and vote).
South Carolina Children's Book Award
- recommended·3rd grade · South Carolinasource: 2025-2026 South Carolina Children's Book Award Nominees (South Carolina Association of School Librarians / studySC)
- recommended·4th grade · South Carolinasource: 2025-2026 South Carolina Children's Book Award Nominees (South Carolina Association of School Librarians / studySC)
- recommended·5th grade · South Carolinasource: 2025-2026 South Carolina Children's Book Award Nominees (South Carolina Association of School Librarians / studySC)
Washington Sasquatch Book Award
- recommended·4th grade · Washingtonsource: 2026 Sasquatch Book Award Nominees (Washington Library Association)
- recommended·5th grade · Washingtonsource: 2026 Sasquatch Book Award Nominees (Washington Library Association)
- recommended·6th grade · Washingtonsource: 2026 Sasquatch Book Award Nominees (Washington Library Association)
- recommended·7th grade · Washingtonsource: 2026 Sasquatch Book Award Nominees (Washington Library Association)
- recommended·8th grade · Washingtonsource: 2026 Sasquatch Book Award Nominees (Washington Library Association)
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Common questions
- What grade level is The Guardian Test (Legends of Lotus Island #1)?
- The Guardian Test (Legends of Lotus Island #1) is listed for grades 2–5. It appears on 3 state book-award lists across 3 states, from grade 2 to grade 8. Exact placement varies by school and district.
- How long does it take to read The Guardian Test (Legends of Lotus Island #1)?
- It takes about 2h 25m to read The Guardian Test (Legends of Lotus Island #1) (133 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 145 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
- What curricula assign The Guardian Test (Legends of Lotus Island #1)?
- The Guardian Test (Legends of Lotus Island #1) appears on reading lists for Rhode Island Children's Book Award, South Carolina Children's Book Award, Washington Sasquatch Book Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
- Is The Guardian Test (Legends of Lotus Island #1) banned in schools?
- The Guardian Test (Legends of Lotus Island #1) 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 Guardian Test (Legends of Lotus Island #1) explore?
- Central themes in The Guardian Test (Legends of Lotus Island #1) include fantasy, nature, courage, 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 2–5 — 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.