What reading level is A fierce and subtle poison?

A fierce and subtle poison by Samantha Mabry is at a Level 5-6 reading level (Lexile 860L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is A fierce and subtle poison appropriate for?

A fierce and subtle poison is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 10ME (Moderate — Emotional).

What genre is A fierce and subtle poison?

A fierce and subtle poison is fiction — Young Adult Fiction.

Does A fierce and subtle poison have any content warnings?

A fierce and subtle poison has a HootRating of 10ME (Moderate — Emotional). No specific content flags noted. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is A fierce and subtle poison?

A fierce and subtle poison by Samantha Mabry is 279 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated July 16, 2026

A fierce and subtle poison

Samantha Mabry

A fierce and subtle poison

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Samantha Mabry

Reading Level 5-6 10ME Ages 9-12 Matched

The text is written at a 5th 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 salty breeze carries whispers of a girl with grass-green hair and skin like the island leaves. Her touch is said to be both magical and deadly, and mysterious letters start arriving just as Lucas’s summer takes a strange turn. Can he unravel the secrets before it's too late?

Themes

RomanceParanormal fictionFriendship MysteryMagical RealismComing of Age

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel weaves Caribbean folklore and magical realism into a suspenseful story about a boy drawn into the world of a mysterious girl believed to be cursed. It explores themes of romance, mystery, and supernatural elements appropriate for ages 9-12, with some suspenseful moments that may require parental guidance. The story’s rich cultural setting and poetic prose offer a unique reading experience for young readers interested in fantasy and folklore.

Why we rated A fierce and subtle poison 10ME

A fierce and subtle poison is written at a Level 5-6 reading level with a Lexile measure of 860L across 279 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 6.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, A fierce and subtle poison works for readers up to grade 7.5.

We rate A fierce and subtle poison as 10ME ("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 fierce and subtle poison explores romance, paranormal fiction, friendship, mystery, and magical realism — 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.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about romance, paranormal fiction, friendship.

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.