A wicked thing
Rhiannon Thomas
A wicked thing
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Rhiannon Thomas
The text is written at a 7th 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 scent of smoke and blooming roses fills the air as Aurora wakes from a hundred years of sleep, the world around her both familiar and strange. The castle’s silence hums with secrets and shadows, while a fire burns within her that no one expected. What will she choose when the fate of a kingdom rests on her shoulders?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fantasy novel reimagines the classic Sleeping Beauty tale with themes of political intrigue, self-discovery, and empowerment. Aurora awakens to a changed kingdom and must navigate complex emotions and dangerous magic as she faces difficult choices. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story explores mature themes like loss and identity in an age-appropriate way.
Why we rated A wicked thing 12ME
A wicked thing is written at a Level 7 reading level across 337 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, A wicked thing works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate A wicked thing 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, social complexity, 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 wicked thing explores fantasy world-building, adventure, coming of age, romance, and family — 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 fantasy world-building, adventure, coming of age.
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
- 9780062303530
- Pages
- 337
- Publisher
- HarperTeen
- Published
- 2015
- Type
- Fiction