Blood & flowers
Penny Blubaugh
Blood & flowers
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Penny Blubaugh
The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.
About This Book
What if running away meant finding a whole new kind of family—one made of humans and magical faeries? Persia thought she had finally found a place where she belonged, with puppets, theater, and even love. But when danger chases them into the mysterious realm of Faerie, will their new home become a trap instead?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Blood & Flowers tells the story of Persia, a young girl who escapes a troubled home to join an underground theater troupe made up of both humans and faeries. The group faces false accusations that force them to flee to the perilous world of Faerie, where they must navigate magical dangers and political threats. Suitable for ages 9-12, this middle-grade novel explores themes of family, belonging, and courage within a supernatural setting, with some mild peril and fantasy violence.
Why we rated Blood & flowers 12ME
Blood & flowers is written at a Level 7 reading level across 344 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Blood & flowers works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Blood & flowers as 12ME ("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, Blood & flowers explores friendship, family, supernatural, fantasy world-building, and coming of age — 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.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, family, supernatural.
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
12ME — 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
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
A history of glitter and blood
Hannah Moskowitz
A history of glitter and blood
Hannah Moskowitz
Blood bound
Keshia Swaim
Blood bound
Keshia Swaim
Bloodflower
Christine Hinwood
Bloodflower
Christine Hinwood
Bloodstone
Gillian Philip
Bloodstone
Gillian Philip
Flower Fairies
Emily Rodda
Flower Fairies
Emily Rodda
Fairytale
Valerie Gribben
Fairytale
Valerie Gribben
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780061728624
- Pages
- 344
- Publisher
- HarperTeen
- Published
- 2011
- Type
- Fiction