Buried
Robin Merrow MacCready
Buried
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Robin Merrow MacCready
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
Claudine’s hands tremble as she digs into the cold earth, uncovering secrets her mother never wanted to be found. Every shovelful brings her closer to a truth that could change everything—but what if some truths are better left buried?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This psychological thriller follows Claudine, a teenager coping with the challenges of having an alcoholic mother as she uncovers a disturbing family secret. Suitable for ages 13 and up, the story explores themes of family struggles and emotional complexity, with some intense moments that may require parental guidance.
Why we rated Buried 11IE
Buried is written at a Level 6 reading level across 208 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Buried works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Buried as 11IE ("Intense — 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, social complexity, thematic difficulty — 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, Buried explores mothers and daughters, social issues, juvenile fiction, family, and psychological thriller — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about mothers and daughters, social issues, juvenile fiction.
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
11IE — Intense — 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
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780525477242
- Pages
- 208
- Publisher
- Dutton Juvenile
- Published
- September 21, 2006
- Type
- Fiction