What reading level is Burned?

Burned by Ellen Hopkins is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 710L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Burned appropriate for?

Burned is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9IE (Intense — Emotional). Content flags: Abuse, Religious Pressure, Sexual Content.

What genre is Burned?

Burned is fiction — Young Adult Fiction.

Does Burned have any content warnings?

Burned has a HootRating of 9IE (Intense — Emotional). Content flags include: Abuse, Religious Pressure, Sexual Content. 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 Ellen Hopkins is 532 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

Burned

Ellen Hopkins

Burned

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Ellen Hopkins

Reading Level 4-5 9IE Ages 9-12 Heads Up

The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes.

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About This Book

Have you ever wondered what happens when a simple dream turns into a big question about life, love, and who you really are? Pattyn lives in a strict family where even thoughts can feel like mistakes, and suddenly, everything she believes is challenged. What will Pattyn choose when her world starts to crumble?

Themes

Family Identity & Self-DiscoveryReligious ThemesComing of Age Romance

Quick Assessment

Burned by Ellen Hopkins explores the complex journey of a young girl raised in a strict, abusive religious household as she struggles with questions about identity, love, and faith. The story addresses mature themes such as family dysfunction, religious pressure, and adolescent sexuality, making it suitable for older middle-grade readers (ages 9-12) who are ready to engage with serious topics. Parents should be aware of the book's sensitive content, including abuse and questions about faith and sexuality.

Why we rated Burned 9IE

Burned is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 710L across 532 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Burned works for readers up to grade 6.5.

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, social complexity, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Abuse, Religious Pressure, Sexual Content.

Thematically, Burned explores family, identity & self-discovery, religious themes, coming of age, and romance — 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.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about family, identity & self-discovery, religious themes.

Maybe not for

! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
! Children younger than 9-12 — the content intensity is above what most younger kids can process comfortably.
! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.