The Silence That Binds Us
by Joanna Ho
The Silence That Binds Us by Joanna Ho is assigned in US schools at grades 9–12. It appears across 1 curriculum reference and 1 state, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.
This page shows where The Silence That Binds Us 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 9–12
- Age range
- Ages 14–18
- First published
- 2022
- Genre
- Young Adult Fiction
- ISBN-13
- 9780063059368
Where to find this book
Audible: new members only · many assigned titles are included with the membership.
Other formats on Amazon: Kindle · Audiobook
As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases and membership trials at no extra cost to you. Pricing, Prime, and trial terms shown on Amazon.
About this book
After her brother's death and a wave of anti-Asian blame, Maybelline Chen finds her voice through poetry and confronts racism in her community, in this layered, timely novel. a 2025-2026 Virginia Readers' Choice (High School) nominee.
Why widely assigned
This Young Adult Fiction title, typically at grades 9–12. Written in the 2020s; pairs with curriculum units on grief and identity; cited across 1 curriculum framework.
Where this book is assigned
Virginia Readers' Choice
- recommended·9th grade · Virginiasource: Virginia Readers' Choice 2025-2026 Award Nominee Lists (Elementary + Middle School)
- recommended·10th grade · Virginiasource: Virginia Readers' Choice 2025-2026 Award Nominee Lists (Elementary + Middle School)
- recommended·11th grade · Virginiasource: Virginia Readers' Choice 2025-2026 Award Nominee Lists (Elementary + Middle School)
- recommended·12th grade · Virginiasource: Virginia Readers' Choice 2025-2026 Award Nominee Lists (Elementary + Middle School)
Similar grade-level books
The Great GatsbyF. Scott Fitzgerald · 1070L
1984George Orwell · 1090L
The Diary of a Young GirlAnne Frank · 1080L
The OutsidersS.E. Hinton · 750L
See all books like The Silence That Binds Us→ — matched on theme + reading level.
Common questions
- What grade level is The Silence That Binds Us?
- The Silence That Binds Us is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 9–12. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
- What curricula assign The Silence That Binds Us?
- The Silence That Binds Us appears on reading lists for Virginia Readers' Choice. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
- Is The Silence That Binds Us banned in schools?
- The Silence That Binds Us 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 Silence That Binds Us explore?
- Central themes in The Silence That Binds Us include grief, identity, justice. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.
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 9–12 — 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
- Cited in 1 state ELA framework or DOE list (see citations above).
- Removal / banning records
- No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
- Seasonal / contextual tags
- Tagged for: book-club.