Banished
Betsy Schow
Banished
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Betsy Schow
The text is written at a 7th 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
The sharp scent of old parchment fills the air, and the steady scratch of a quill echoes like a heartbeat. Dorthea feels the weight of her invisible crown in a world that doesn’t know her true story. But when shadows threaten to erase her tale forever, how far will she go to fight for her happily ever after?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Banished is the third book in The Storymakers Series, blending fairy tale magic with a modern setting. It follows Dorthea, a princess trapped in an unfamiliar world, and Rexi, an outlaw fighting to reclaim her destiny, as they confront dark forces trying to rewrite their stories. Suitable for ages 9-12, the book contains themes of courage, identity, and resilience with mild fantasy peril but no intense content.
Why we rated Banished 12LE
Banished is written at a Level 7 reading level across 336 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Banished works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Banished as 12LE ("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 fantasy world-building, adventure, friendship, coming of age, and magic — 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 fantasy world-building, adventure, friendship.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12LE — 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
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781492636021
- Pages
- 336
- Publisher
- Storymakers
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction