What grade level is The Recess Queen?

The Recess Queen is listed for grades K–3. It appears on 1 state book-award list across 1 state. Exact placement varies by school and district.

How long does it take to read The Recess Queen?

It takes about 30 minutes to read The Recess Queen (29 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 30 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.

What curricula assign The Recess Queen?

The Recess Queen appears on reading lists for Virginia Readers' Choice. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.

Is The Recess Queen banned in schools?

The Recess Queen 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. See the banned books list by state.

What themes does The Recess Queen explore?

Central themes in The Recess Queen include recess, recesses, bullies, bullying.

The Recess Queen

Name: The Recess Queen
Availability: InStock
Author: Alexis O'Neill
ISBN: 9780439206372

by Alexis O'Neill · Grades K–3 · Realistic Fiction

The Recess Queen by Alexis O'Neill is on US reading lists at grades k–3. It appears on 1 list: the Virginia Readers' Choice, across 1 state. Every citation below links to the primary source.

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Before you buy: Ages 5–8 · Grades K–3 · 29 pages. The button opens the hardcover edition (ISBN 9780439206372). If the class uses a set edition or translation, match its ISBN first.

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Assigned across 1 curriculum list · 1 state

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:Virginia Readers' Choice

This page shows where The Recess Queen 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 K–3
Age range: Ages 5–8
Pages: 29
Reading time: about 30 minutes (est.)
First published: 2002
Genre: Realistic Fiction
ISBN-13: 9780439206372

Sources: grade range from the cited lists below, last checked 2026-09-24; pages and year from our catalog record (sources); reading time is an estimate at 250 words a minute.

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Similar grade-level books

See all books like The Recess Queen→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why it is assigned

This realistic fiction title is typically read at grades k–3. Written in the 2000s; pairs with curriculum units on recess and recesses; cited on the Virginia Readers' Choice.

Themes

recess · recesses · bullies · bullying

Where this book is recommended

Virginia Readers' Choice

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Common questions

What grade level is The Recess Queen?: The Recess Queen is listed for grades K–3. It appears on 1 state book-award list across 1 state. Exact placement varies by school and district.
How long does it take to read The Recess Queen?: It takes about 30 minutes to read The Recess Queen (29 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 30 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign The Recess Queen?: The Recess Queen appears on reading lists for Virginia Readers' Choice. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is The Recess Queen banned in schools?: The Recess Queen 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. See the banned books list by state.
What themes does The Recess Queen explore?: Central themes in The Recess Queen include recess, recesses, bullies, bullying.

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 K–3 — drawn from the state book-award lists citing this book.
Curriculum alignment: Cited in 1 curriculum on this site (see “Where recommended” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence: On state book-award lists in 1 state (see citations above).
Removal / banning records: No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
Seasonal / contextual tags: Tagged for: book-club.