Blood and Salt
Kim Liggett
Blood and Salt
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Kim Liggett
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
Ash races through the endless cornfields, her heart pounding as shadows twist around her. She’s just uncovered a secret her family has hidden for centuries—one filled with magic, danger, and a mystery that could change everything. But when the night closes in, will she survive what’s coming next?
Quick Assessment
Blood and Salt follows 17-year-old Ash Larkin as she uncovers her family's dark history linked to ancient alchemy and immortality. Set in a remote Kansas settlement, the story blends supernatural elements with themes of family ties and self-discovery. Suitable for middle-grade readers, it includes suspenseful moments and mild peril but no graphic content.
Why we rated Blood and Salt 12LE
Blood and Salt is written at a Level 7 reading level across 352 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Blood and Salt works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Blood and Salt 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, Blood and Salt explores supernatural, family, mystery, and adventure — 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 supernatural, family, mystery.
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
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780399166488
- Pages
- 352
- Publisher
- G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction