What reading level is Burned?

Burned by Sara Shepard is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 720L). Recommended for Upper Grades readers (Ages 13+).

What age is Burned appropriate for?

Burned is recommended for Ages 13+. HootRating: 9IE (Intense — Emotional). Content flags: Fear & Anxiety, Physical Danger, Bullying.

What genre is Burned?

Burned is fiction — Juvenile Fiction. Part of the Pretty Little Liars series.

Does Burned have any content warnings?

Burned has a HootRating of 9IE (Intense — Emotional). Content flags include: Fear & Anxiety, Physical Danger, Bullying. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Burned?

Burned by Sara Shepard is 336 pages (approximately 70,169 words).

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

Burned

Sara Shepard

Burned

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Sara Shepard

Pretty Little Liars

Reading Level 4-5 9IE Ages 13+ Heads Up

The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes.

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About This Book

Four high school seniors face the fallout from a secret they tried to keep hidden during spring break. When a relentless stalker begins to threaten their safety, they must confront danger and trust each other to survive. Secrets, suspense, and friendship collide in a race against time.

Themes

Friendship Mystery Coming of Age

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 4-5 book with intense content intensity. Content themes include fear & anxiety, physical danger, bullying. Written for readers ages 13+.

Why we rated Burned 9IE

Burned is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 720L across 336 pages (approximately 70,169 words). Strong independent readers around grade 5.8 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Burned works for readers up to grade 6.8.

Read aloud, Burned runs about 7.8 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.

We rate Burned as 9IE ("Intense — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Intense" range — intense conflict including peril, frightening scenes, or emotionally heavy themes. 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: Fear & Anxiety, Physical Danger, Bullying.

Thematically, Burned explores friendship, mystery, and coming of age — 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.
✓ Readers who like a steady plot with enough momentum to keep pages turning.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, mystery, coming of age.
✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there are 13 more books in the Pretty Little Liars series.

Maybe not for

! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
! Children younger than 13+ — the content intensity is above what most younger kids can process comfortably.