Burning nation
Trent Reedy
Burning nation
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Trent Reedy
The text is written at a 8th 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
Here’s a secret: Idaho is caught in the middle of a hidden war, and Danny has to choose who to trust when everything he knows changes. Friends disappear, battles ignite, and nothing is what it seems—but that’s only the beginning.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Burning Nation follows Danny and his friends as they navigate the dangers of a second American civil war after a federal invasion of Idaho. This middle-grade novel explores themes of resistance, loyalty, and loss, with realistic depictions of conflict appropriate for ages 9-12. Parents should be aware that the story includes wartime violence and themes of death and political upheaval.
Why we rated Burning nation 12ME
Burning nation is written at a Level 8 reading level across 417 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 9.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Burning nation works for readers up to grade 10.0.
We rate Burning nation as 12ME ("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, social complexity — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: War & Conflict.
Thematically, Burning nation explores adventure, war & conflict, friendship, and resistance to government — 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 adventure, war & conflict, friendship.
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
12ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Content Flags
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A 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
- 9780545548731
- Pages
- 417
- Publisher
- Arthur A. Levine Books
- Published
- 2015
- Type
- Fiction