What reading level is A wounded name?

A wounded name by Dot Hutchison is at a Level 7-8 reading level (Lexile 1010L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is A wounded name appropriate for?

A wounded name is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 12ME (Moderate — Emotional).

What genre is A wounded name?

A wounded name is fiction — Young Adult Fiction.

Does A wounded name have any content warnings?

A wounded name has a HootRating of 12ME (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 wounded name?

A wounded name by Dot Hutchison is 314 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

A wounded name

Dot Hutchison

A wounded name

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Dot Hutchison

Reading Level 7-8 12ME Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

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

I have a secret: Ophelia can see ghosts, even when she takes her pills. At Elsinore Academy, that's a dangerous gift, especially now that the Headmaster has died and his restless spirits haunt the halls. But seeing ghosts is only the beginning of Ophelia's story—there's a promise she must keep, and choices that could change everything.

Themes

Ghost storiesEmotional problemsSchool storiesRevengeFriendship Coming of Age

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel centers on Ophelia Castellan, a girl who sees ghosts at her boarding school, Elsinore Academy. The story explores themes of grief, emotional struggle, and supernatural mystery, suitable for readers aged 9-12 who enjoy ghost stories with emotional depth. Parents should note the presence of ghostly hauntings and themes of loss, but the content is handled thoughtfully and is appropriate for middle-grade readers.

Why we rated A wounded name 12ME

A wounded name is written at a Level 7-8 reading level with a Lexile measure of 1010L across 314 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, A wounded name works for readers up to grade 9.5.

We rate A wounded name 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 wounded name explores ghost stories, emotional problems, school stories, revenge, and friendship — 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 ghost stories, emotional problems, school stories.

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.