Cover of The Words We Keep

The Words We Keep

by Erin Stewart

The Words We Keep by Erin Stewart is assigned in US schools at grades 8–12. 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 Words We Keep 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 8–12
Pages
329
Reading time
about 6 hours (est.)
First published
2022
ISBN-13
9781471184529
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About this book

A beautifully realistic, relatable story about mental health and the healing powers of friendship and art, perfect for fans of Kathleen Glasgow's Girl in Pieces and Jennifer Niven’s All the Bright Places. 'Gorgeous and deeply touching.' – Kathleen Glasgow, New York Times bestselling author of Girl in Pieces and You'd Be Home Now 'Wild, beautiful, and free. The Words We Keep is a poetic page turner. A raw, relatable story of mental illness, romance, and the power of love.' – Jennifer Niven, New York Times bestselling author of All the Bright Places It’s been two months since the Night on the Bathroom Floor – when Lily found her sister, Alice, hurting herself. Now Alice is coming home after treatment and it’s getting harder for Lily to outrun the compulsive thoughts she's having. Meeting Mic

Where this book is assigned

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Common questions

What grade level is The Words We Keep?
The Words We Keep is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 8–12. 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 Words We Keep?
It takes about 6 hours to read The Words We Keep (329 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 360 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign The Words We Keep?
The Words We Keep appears on reading lists for Schneider Family Book Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is The Words We Keep banned in schools?
The Words We Keep 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 8–12 — 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.