What reading level is Cartwheeling in thunderstorms?

Cartwheeling in thunderstorms by Katherine Rundell is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 720L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Cartwheeling in thunderstorms appropriate for?

Cartwheeling in thunderstorms is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9LE (Light — Emotional).

What genre is Cartwheeling in thunderstorms?

Cartwheeling in thunderstorms is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does Cartwheeling in thunderstorms have any content warnings?

Cartwheeling in thunderstorms has a HootRating of 9LE (Light — Emotional). No specific content flags noted. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Cartwheeling in thunderstorms?

Cartwheeling in thunderstorms by Katherine Rundell is 248 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

Cartwheeling in thunderstorms

Katherine Rundell

Cartwheeling in thunderstorms

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Katherine Rundell

Reading Level 4-5 9LE Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

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 mild with minimal sensitive material.

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About This Book

The sharp scent of rain mixes with the rustle of leaves as Will steps into a new world far from the sunny skies of Zimbabwe. Every corner of the boarding school feels strange and cold, but her heart holds memories that won’t fade. Can she find her place where everything feels so different?

Themes

OrphansBoarding schoolsFamily Coming of Age Multicultural

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel follows Will, a young girl uprooted from her vibrant life in Zimbabwe to attend a boarding school in England. It explores themes of adjustment, identity, and belonging in a sensitive way suitable for ages 9-12. Parents should note the story deals with changes like moving and adapting to new environments but contains no intense content.

Why we rated Cartwheeling in thunderstorms 9LE

Cartwheeling in thunderstorms is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 720L across 248 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Cartwheeling in thunderstorms works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate Cartwheeling in thunderstorms as 9LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.

No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.

Thematically, Cartwheeling in thunderstorms explores orphans, boarding schools, family, coming of age, and multicultural — 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.
✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about orphans, boarding schools, family.