Away

Name: Away
Author: Megan E. Freeman
ISBN: 9781665959728

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Megan E. Freeman

Alone

Reading Level 5-6 ME · Moderate · Emotional Ages 9-12 Matched Page-Turner

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. Its HootRating code, ME, means moderate content, mostly emotional.

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About This Book

After a sudden evacuation, four children find themselves at the same camp where strange happenings spark their curiosity. Together, they unravel secrets surrounding the mysterious danger that forced everyone to leave their homes. Along the way, they face unexpected challenges and uncover truths about friendship and survival.

Themes

Friendship Adventure Mystery Survival Coming of Age

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 5-6 book with moderate content intensity. Content themes include loss & grief, physical danger, fear & anxiety. Written for readers ages 9-12.

Why we rated Away ME (Moderate)

Away is written at a Level 5-6 reading level across 463 pages (approximately 31,798 words). Reading-wise, most kids in grade 6 and up can manage Away on their own; younger readers can enjoy it with a parent or teacher reading along.

Read aloud, Away runs about 3.5 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.

We rate Away as ME (Moderate, mostly 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, physical peril — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Loss & Grief, Physical Danger, Fear & Anxiety, Ghosts, Animal Death, Stalking, Unconsciousness, Natural Bodies of Water.

Thematically, Away explores friendship, adventure, mystery, survival, 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.
✓ Reluctant readers who need fast-paced, hook-heavy stories to stay engaged.
✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, adventure, mystery.

Maybe not for

! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
! Children currently coping with grief — the themes may hit close to home.

For Parents

Content Intensity

ME · Moderate · Emotional

Emotional

Moderate ←

Physical

Moderate

Social

Gentle

Thematic

Gentle

Reading the HootRating code: the first letter is the content intensity (C = Gentle · L = Mild · M = Moderate · I = Intense · V = Very Intense); the second, when there is one, is the kind of content that drives it (E = Emotional · P = Physical · S = Social · T = Thematic). Reading level and age range are rated separately. How we rate

Real stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.