# The Guardian Test (Legends of Lotus Island #1)

**Author:** Christina Soontornvat
**Grade range:** Grades 2–5
**Age range:** 7–11
**First published:** 2023
**Page count:** 133
**Genre:** Middle Grade Fantasy
**ISBN-13:** `9781338759167`
**ISBN-10:** `1338759167`
**Canonical URL:** https://readinglist.school/book/the-guardian-test
**License:** [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) — please credit ReadingList.school when citing.

## About this book

Plum is invited to a school where students learn to transform into Guardian animals and protect the natural world. Newbery Honor author Christina Soontornvat opens an illustrated fantasy series about courage and caring for the earth. Nominated for the 2025-2026 South Carolina Children's Book Award (grades 3-5), administered by the South Carolina Association of School Librarians.

## Themes

- fantasy
- nature
- courage
- friendship

## Where this book is assigned

### South Carolina Children's Book Award

- **recommended** · 3rd grade · South Carolina — [source: 2025-2026 South Carolina Children's Book Award Nominees (South Carolina Association of School Librarians / studySC)](https://studysc.org/sc-book-awards/sc-childrens-book-award-2026)
- **recommended** · 4th grade · South Carolina — [source: 2025-2026 South Carolina Children's Book Award Nominees (South Carolina Association of School Librarians / studySC)](https://studysc.org/sc-book-awards/sc-childrens-book-award-2026)
- **recommended** · 5th grade · South Carolina — [source: 2025-2026 South Carolina Children's Book Award Nominees (South Carolina Association of School Librarians / studySC)](https://studysc.org/sc-book-awards/sc-childrens-book-award-2026)

### Washington Sasquatch Book Award

- **recommended** · 4th grade · Washington — [source: 2026 Sasquatch Book Award Nominees (Washington Library Association)](https://www.wla.org/2026-sasquatch-nominees)
- **recommended** · 5th grade · Washington — [source: 2026 Sasquatch Book Award Nominees (Washington Library Association)](https://www.wla.org/2026-sasquatch-nominees)
- **recommended** · 6th grade · Washington — [source: 2026 Sasquatch Book Award Nominees (Washington Library Association)](https://www.wla.org/2026-sasquatch-nominees)
- **recommended** · 7th grade · Washington — [source: 2026 Sasquatch Book Award Nominees (Washington Library Association)](https://www.wla.org/2026-sasquatch-nominees)
- **recommended** · 8th grade · Washington — [source: 2026 Sasquatch Book Award Nominees (Washington Library Association)](https://www.wla.org/2026-sasquatch-nominees)

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_Generated from primary-source citations indexed on ReadingList.school. For the full HTML view with reading-list cross-references, see https://readinglist.school/book/the-guardian-test._