Blood trust
Eric Van Lustbader
Blood trust
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Eric Van Lustbader
The text is written at a 8th 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.
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About This Book
The sharp click of a locked door echoes through the cold, silent hallways as Alli Carson races against time. Her heart pounds with the weight of a secret that could shake the whole country, and danger lurks in every shadow. Trust is hard to find when the people you thought were friends might be your greatest enemies.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Blood Trust follows Alli Carson, the daughter of a fallen president, who trains as an FBI agent and becomes entangled in a dangerous conspiracy involving high-level government officials. Suitable for middle-grade readers, this thrilling story explores themes of loyalty, justice, and courage, with some intense moments of peril and political intrigue. Parents should be aware of the mature subject matter related to assassination and wrongful accusations.
Why we rated Blood trust 12ME
Blood trust is written at a Level 8 reading level across 416 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 9.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Blood trust works for readers up to grade 10.0.
We rate Blood trust 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, social complexity — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mild Peril, Political Intrigue.
Thematically, Blood trust explores adventure, mystery, friendship, family, and political thriller — 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, friendship.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Content Flags
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780765329745
- Pages
- 416
- Publisher
- Forge Books
- Published
- 2011
- Type
- Fiction