Banished
Sophie Littlefield
Banished
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Sophie Littlefield
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
Hailey races through the dense forest, her heart pounding as shadows twist around her. Suddenly, her Aunt Prairie appears, revealing secrets Hailey never imagined—about her family, her powers, and a future that might be in danger. But just as answers start to surface, a chilling threat closes in.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Banished follows sixteen-year-old Hailey Tarbell, who discovers her family's secret legacy of healing when her mysterious Aunt Prairie arrives. As Hailey unravels the truth about her past, she faces challenges that test her courage and identity. Appropriate for middle-grade readers, this novel explores themes of family secrets and self-discovery with mild suspense but no intense content.
Why we rated Banished 11LE
Banished is written at a Level 6 reading level across 293 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Banished works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Banished as 11LE ("Light — 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, Banished explores family, coming of age, juvenile fiction, and mystery — 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 family, coming of age, juvenile fiction.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780385738538
- Pages
- 293
- Publisher
- Ember
- Published
- 2011
- Type
- Fiction