Book of Ivy
Amy Engel
Book of Ivy
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Amy Engel
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.
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About This Book
What if your family’s survival depended on a secret mission to marry someone you’re supposed to hate? Imagine living in a world rebuilt from ruins, where every choice could change the future. Ivy’s about to discover that the line between friend and enemy is thinner than she ever imagined.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Set in a post-apocalyptic world, 'Book of Ivy' follows a young girl tasked with a dangerous mission that challenges her loyalty and morality. The story explores themes of power, trust, and identity with some mature content including violence and complex emotional struggles, making it suitable for older middle-grade readers and teens. Parents should note the book contains elements of conflict and suspense that may prompt thoughtful discussions.
Why we rated Book of Ivy 12ME
Book of Ivy 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, Book of Ivy works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Book of Ivy 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, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Violence, Morally Complex Themes.
Thematically, Book of Ivy explores adventure, science & nature, family, coming of age, and moral complexity — 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 adventure, science & nature, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.
- ! 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.
Content Flags
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
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781622664665
- Pages
- 304
- Publisher
- Entangled: Teen
- Published
- 2014
- Type
- Fiction