What grade level is The Poet Slave of Cuba?

The Poet Slave of Cuba 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.

How long does it take to read The Poet Slave of Cuba?

It takes about 3h 25m to read The Poet Slave of Cuba (185 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 205 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.

What curricula assign The Poet Slave of Cuba?

The Poet Slave of Cuba appears on reading lists for Pura Belpré Author Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.

Is The Poet Slave of Cuba banned in schools?

The Poet Slave of Cuba 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.

The Poet Slave of Cuba

Name: The Poet Slave of Cuba
Availability: InStock
Author: Margarita Engle
ISBN: 9781466889637

by Margarita Engle

The Poet Slave of Cuba by Margarita Engle is assigned in US schools at grades 7–12. It appears across 1 curriculum reference, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.

This page shows where The Poet Slave of Cuba 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
Pages: 185
Reading time: about 3h 25m (est.)
First published: 2015
ISBN-13: 9781466889637

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About this book

A lyrical biography of a Cuban slave who escaped to become a celebrated poet. Born into the household of a wealthy slave owner in Cuba in 1797, Juan Francisco Manzano spent his early years by the side of a woman who made him call her Mama, even though he had a mama of his own. Denied an education, young Juan still showed an exceptional talent for poetry. His verses reflect the beauty of his world, but they also expose its hideous cruelty. Powerful, haunting poems and breathtaking illustrations create a portrait of a life in which even the pain of slavery could not extinguish the capacity for hope. The Poet Slave of Cuba is the winner of the 2008 Pura Belpre Medal for Narrative and a 2007 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year. Latino Interest.

Where this book is assigned

Pura Belpré Author Award

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Common questions

What grade level is The Poet Slave of Cuba?: The Poet Slave of Cuba 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.
How long does it take to read The Poet Slave of Cuba?: It takes about 3h 25m to read The Poet Slave of Cuba (185 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 205 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign The Poet Slave of Cuba?: The Poet Slave of Cuba appears on reading lists for Pura Belpré Author Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is The Poet Slave of Cuba banned in schools?: The Poet Slave of Cuba 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.

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: Not yet documented in a state-level framework on this site.
Removal / banning records: No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
Seasonal / contextual tags: Tagged for: award-winner.