Backwards moon

Name: Backwards moon
Author: Mary Losure
ISBN: 9780823431601

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Mary Losure

Reading Level 3 LE · Mild · Emotional Ages 9-12 Matched

The text is written at a 3rd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material. Its HootRating code, LE, means mild content, mostly emotional.

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About This Book

There’s a hidden valley where magic keeps humans out—until the veil breaks. Bracken and Nettle, two young witches, discover the Wellspring Water that can fix it has been polluted, but that’s only the beginning.

Themes

Fantasy World-BuildingMagicAdventure Friendship

Quick Assessment

When the magical veil that shields a valley from humans is broken and the Wellspring Water needed to repair it is polluted, two young witches must venture into the city to save their coven. Along the way they are joined by a lonely farmer and a talking raccoon, and they face the risks of an unfamiliar human world. Expect light fantasy peril and some tense moments in the city, handled with an adventurous, hopeful tone that families typically find comfortable to discuss together.

Why we rated Backwards moon LE (Mild)

Backwards moon is written at a Level 3 reading level across 134 pages. Reading-wise, most kids in grade 4 and up can manage Backwards moon on their own; younger readers can enjoy it with a parent or teacher reading along.

We rate Backwards moon as LE (Mild, mostly emotional) because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.

No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.

Thematically, Backwards moon explores fantasy world-building, magic, adventure, 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.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about fantasy world-building, magic, adventure.

Maybe not for

! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.

For Parents

Content Intensity

LE · Mild · Emotional

Emotional

Mild ←

Physical

Gentle

Social

Gentle

Thematic

Mild

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

Light conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.

Data confidence: high

Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?