A conspiracy of stars
Olivia A. Cole
A conspiracy of stars
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Olivia A. Cole
The text is written at a 8th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
The sharp scent of strange plants fills the air as Octavia steps into the glowing labs of Faloiv, a world unlike any other. She’s ready to uncover the secrets hidden behind the glass walls, but every discovery pulls her deeper into a web of mystery and danger. What will happen when the truth about her family and the fragile peace shatters?
Quick Assessment
Set on the alien world of Faloiv, this middle-grade sci-fi novel follows Octavia, a young girl eager to become a scientist who uncovers dangerous secrets that could disrupt the peace between humans and the planet’s indigenous people. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story explores themes of family, identity, and ethical dilemmas in science, with some tension and conflict appropriate for this age group.
Why we rated A conspiracy of stars 12ME
A conspiracy of stars is written at a Level 8 reading level across 418 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 9.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, A conspiracy of stars works for readers up to grade 10.0.
We rate A conspiracy of stars as 12ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.
Thematically, A conspiracy of stars explores family, science & nature, adventure, fantasy world-building, and coming of age — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about family, science & nature, adventure.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780062644213
- Pages
- 418
- Publisher
- Katherine Tegen Books
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction