Blackbird
Anna Carey
Blackbird
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Anna Carey
The text is written at a 6th 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 subway screeches to a halt just as a girl with a mysterious bird tattoo wakes up on the tracks, heart pounding. She doesn’t remember her name, but one thing’s clear—someone wants her gone. Can she unravel the secrets before it's too late?
Quick Assessment
Blackbird is a fast-paced young adult thriller about a teenage girl who wakes up with no memory and a target on her back. Suitable for readers aged 13 and up, it explores themes of identity, survival, and suspense with some action and mild peril. Parents should note the story contains moments of tension and danger but no graphic content.
Why we rated Blackbird 11ME
Blackbird is written at a Level 6 reading level across 256 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Blackbird works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Blackbird as 11ME ("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, Blackbird explores young adult fiction, action & adventure, survival, mystery, and romance — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about young adult fiction, action & adventure, survival.
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
11ME — 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
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780062299734
- Pages
- 256
- Publisher
- HarperTeen
- Published
- 2014 September
- Type
- Fiction