Burn

Name: Burn
Author: Suzanne Phillips
ISBN: 9780316001656

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

a novel

by Suzanne Phillips

Reading Level 3-4 ME · Moderate · Emotional Ages 13+ Heads Up

The text is written at a 3rd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes. Its HootRating code, ME, means moderate content, mostly emotional.

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About This Book

The sharp sting of whispered words and the cold weight of being alone fill the halls every day. Cameron feels his anger bubbling up like a storm inside him, but no one seems to see the pain beneath. What happens when feelings get too big to hold?

Themes

BullyingEmotional ProblemsPost-traumatic Stress DisorderSchools

Quick Assessment

Cameron, a bullied high school freshman, sinks into isolation and anger until his frustration ends in a killing, and the story examines the behavior that led up to it. Parents should expect strong discussion of bullying, emotional distress, and PTSD, along with references to stalking, child abuse, alcohol abuse, and the deaths of animals including a dog and a pet. The book's redemptive arc and focus on early intervention make it a thoughtful choice for teens ready to discuss violence and accountability.

Why we rated Burn ME (Moderate)

Burn is written at a Level 3-4 reading level across 279 pages. Upper Grades (Ages 13+) is the typical interest range for this book — readers in that age band have the maturity and attention span suited to the story, separate from whether they can decode the words.

We rate Burn as ME (Moderate, mostly 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 — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Bullying, Emotional Problems, Post-traumatic Stress.

Thematically, Burn explores bullying, emotional problems, post-traumatic stress disorder, and schools — 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.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about bullying, emotional problems, post-traumatic stress disorder.

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

ME · Moderate · Emotional

Emotional

Moderate ←

Physical

Gentle

Social

Mild

Thematic

Mild

Reading the HootRating code: the first letter is the content intensity (C = Gentle · L = Mild · M = Moderate · I = Intense · V = Very Intense); the second, when there is one, is the kind of content that drives it (E = Emotional · P = Physical · S = Social · T = Thematic). Reading level and age range are rated separately. How we rate

Real stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.