What grade level is Ties That Bind, Ties That Break?

Ties That Bind, Ties That Break is listed for grades 9–12. 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 Ties That Bind, Ties That Break?

It takes about 2h 55m to read Ties That Bind, Ties That Break (160 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 175 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.

What curricula assign Ties That Bind, Ties That Break?

Ties That Bind, Ties That Break appears on reading lists for California Young Reader Medal. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.

Is Ties That Bind, Ties That Break banned in schools?

Ties That Bind, Ties That Break 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 Ties That Bind, Ties That Break explore?

Central themes in Ties That Bind, Ties That Break include china, footbinding, history, individuality.

Ties That Bind, Ties That Break

Name: Ties That Bind, Ties That Break
Availability: InStock
Author: Lensey Namioka
ISBN: 9780141317151

by Lensey Namioka · Grades 9–12 · Realistic Fiction

Ties That Bind, Ties That Break by Lensey Namioka is on US reading lists at grades 9–12. It appears on 1 list: the California Young Reader Medal, across 1 state. Every citation below links to the primary source.

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Before you buy: Ages 14–17 · Grades 9–12 · 160 pages. The button opens the paperback edition (ISBN 9780141317151). 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:California Young Reader Medal

This page shows where Ties That Bind, Ties That Break 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 9–12
Age range: Ages 14–17
Pages: 160
Reading time: about 2h 55m (est.)
First published: 1999
Genre: Realistic Fiction
ISBN-13: 9780141317151

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.

Good fit for grade 9?

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Similar grade-level books

See all books like Ties That Bind, Ties That Break→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why it is assigned

This realistic fiction title is typically read at grades 9–12. Written in the 1990s; pairs with curriculum units on china and footbinding; cited on the California Young Reader Medal.

Themes

china · footbinding · history · individuality

Where this book is recommended

California Young Reader Medal

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Common questions

What grade level is Ties That Bind, Ties That Break?: Ties That Bind, Ties That Break is listed for grades 9–12. 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 Ties That Bind, Ties That Break?: It takes about 2h 55m to read Ties That Bind, Ties That Break (160 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 175 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign Ties That Bind, Ties That Break?: Ties That Bind, Ties That Break appears on reading lists for California Young Reader Medal. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is Ties That Bind, Ties That Break banned in schools?: Ties That Bind, Ties That Break 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 Ties That Bind, Ties That Break explore?: Central themes in Ties That Bind, Ties That Break include china, footbinding, history, individuality.

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 9–12 — 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.