Banished
Kimberley Griffiths Little
Banished
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Forbidden #2
by Kimberley Griffiths Little
The text is written at a 8th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
The hot desert wind stings your skin and the sharp scent of sand fills the air. Jayden runs with every ounce of strength, her heart pounding as danger closes in behind her. But survival isn’t just about escaping—it's about facing secrets that could change everything she thought she knew.
Quick Assessment
Banished is a young adult historical fiction novel set in ancient Mesopotamia, following Jayden as she navigates survival, love, and betrayal while fleeing danger in the desert. Suitable for teens ages 13 and up, it explores themes of courage, trust, and complex relationships. The story contains moments of emotional intensity and peril but is appropriate for mature middle and high school readers.
Why we rated Banished 12ME
Banished is written at a Level 8 reading level across 407 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 9.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Banished works for readers up to grade 10.0.
We rate Banished 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, physical peril — 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, Banished explores coming of age, adventure, family, romance, and historical — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers. Each of these themes is concrete enough to seed a real conversation, not just a moral lesson.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ 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 coming of age, adventure, family.
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
5/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780062195012
- Pages
- 407
- Publisher
- HarperCollins
- Published
- 2016
- Type
- Fiction