What reading level is Bury the Dead?

Bury the Dead by Jeff Rousselow is at a Level 6 reading level. Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Bury the Dead appropriate for?

Bury the Dead is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 11ME (Moderate — Emotional). Content flags: Loss & Grief, Depression, Emotional Struggle.

What genre is Bury the Dead?

Bury the Dead is fiction — Death.

Does Bury the Dead have any content warnings?

Bury the Dead has a HootRating of 11ME (Moderate — Emotional). Content flags include: Loss & Grief, Depression, Emotional Struggle. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Bury the Dead?

Bury the Dead by Jeff Rousselow is 244 pages.

Bury the Dead

Jeff Rousselow

Bury the Dead

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Jeff Rousselow

Reading Level 6 11ME Ages 9-12 Matched

The text is written at a 6th 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

Jake is about to do the unthinkable: quit basketball to become a wrestling champion — all to honor his best friend Pete, who died too soon. As he steps onto the mat, Jake faces a challenge bigger than a game; it’s about healing and finding his way back to life. What will it take to bury the past and win the future?

Themes

Friendship Coming of Age Sports Family

Quick Assessment

Set in a small Wisconsin town, this middle-grade novel explores themes of grief, friendship, and resilience as Jake copes with the death of his best friend Pete. Appropriate for ages 9-12, it sensitively portrays a young boy’s journey through depression and his attempt to reclaim joy through sports and community. Parents should note the depiction of emotional struggle and loss, which is handled with care.