What reading level is Brackenbeast?

Brackenbeast by Kate Alice Marshall is at a Level 5 reading level. Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Brackenbeast appropriate for?

Brackenbeast is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 10ME (Moderate — Emotional). Content flags: Mild Peril, Fantasy Violence, Fear & Anxiety, Friendship.

What genre is Brackenbeast?

Brackenbeast is fiction — Juvenile Fiction. Part of the The Last Kids on Earth series.

Does Brackenbeast have any content warnings?

Brackenbeast has a HootRating of 10ME (Moderate — Emotional). Content flags include: Mild Peril, Fantasy Violence, Fear & Anxiety, Friendship. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Brackenbeast?

Brackenbeast by Kate Alice Marshall is 289 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

Brackenbeast

Kate Alice Marshall

Brackenbeast

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Kate Alice Marshall

The Last Kids on Earth · Book 5

Reading Level 5 10ME Ages 9-12 Matched

The text is written at a 5th 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

When eerie creatures start snatching neighbors in the quiet town of Eden Eld, Eleanor and her friends Pip and Otto must unravel dark secrets to protect their families. Facing a sinister new foe with dangerous tricks, they rely on a mysterious book of twisted tales and their unbreakable bond to outsmart the lurking mud monsters. With every step, their adventure changes them in unexpected ways, testing their courage and friendship.

Themes

Friendship Adventure Fantasy World-Building Coming of Age Mystery

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 5 book with moderate content intensity. Content themes include mild peril, fantasy violence, fear & anxiety. Written for readers ages 9-12.

Why we rated Brackenbeast 10ME

Brackenbeast is written at a Level 5 reading level across 289 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 6.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Brackenbeast works for readers up to grade 7.0.

We rate Brackenbeast as 10ME ("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.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mild Peril, Fantasy Violence, Fear & Anxiety, Friendship.

Thematically, Brackenbeast explores friendship, adventure, fantasy world-building, coming of age, and mystery — 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.
✓ Readers who like a steady plot with enough momentum to keep pages turning.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, adventure, fantasy world-building.
✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there are 7 more books in the The Last Kids on Earth series.

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.