Black Moon Rising
D. J. MacHale
Black Moon Rising
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by D. J. MacHale
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
Have you ever wondered what happens when a story doesn't have an ending? Marcus works for the Library, where unfinished tales come to life, and now a middle school is facing strange, spooky accidents. What secrets will the black moon reveal before it’s too late?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Black Moon Rising is a middle-grade supernatural adventure that follows Marcus and his friends as they investigate mysterious accidents at a Massachusetts middle school. The story involves elements of witchcraft and suspense but remains appropriate for ages 9-12, with no graphic content. It’s a fast-paced read that encourages imagination and problem-solving.
Why we rated Black Moon Rising 12LE
Black Moon Rising is written at a Level 7 reading level across 304 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Black Moon Rising works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Black Moon Rising 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, Black Moon Rising explores adventure, mystery, supernatural, friendship, and schools — 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 adventure, mystery, supernatural.
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.
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
3/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781101932605
- Pages
- 304
- Publisher
- Yearling
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction