What reading level is Another kind of hurricane?

Another kind of hurricane by Tamara Ellis Smith is at a Level 3 reading level (Lexile 570L). Recommended for Lower Grades readers (Ages 5-8).

What age is Another kind of hurricane appropriate for?

Another kind of hurricane is recommended for Ages 5-8. HootRating: 8ME (Moderate — Emotional).

What genre is Another kind of hurricane?

Another kind of hurricane is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does Another kind of hurricane have any content warnings?

Another kind of hurricane has a HootRating of 8ME (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 Another kind of hurricane?

Another kind of hurricane by Tamara Ellis Smith is 326 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

Another kind of hurricane

Tamara Ellis Smith

Another kind of hurricane

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Tamara Ellis Smith

Reading Level 3 8ME Ages 5-8 Heads Up

The text is written at a 3rd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for younger children (ages 5–8), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.

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About This Book

Henry stands at the edge of the mountain, clutching a photo of his best friend who’s gone. Far away, Zavion watches storm clouds roll in, remembering the day his home disappeared. What will happen when their worlds collide?

Themes

GriefSurvival Friendship FamilyNatural Disaster

Quick Assessment

This sensitive fictional story explores themes of grief and survival through the experiences of two boys from very different places—one coping with the loss of a friend in Vermont, the other displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Suitable for early readers ages 5-8, it gently introduces the impact of loss and the healing power of friendship without graphic content. Parents should be aware it addresses emotional topics like death and displacement with care.

Why we rated Another kind of hurricane 8ME

Another kind of hurricane is written at a Level 3 reading level with a Lexile measure of 570L across 326 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 4.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Another kind of hurricane works for readers up to grade 5.0.

We rate Another kind of hurricane as 8ME ("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 — 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, Another kind of hurricane explores grief, survival, friendship, family, and natural disaster — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.

Good fit for

✓ Children in the Ages 5-8 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about grief, survival, 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.