What reading level is Chasing the Milky Way?

Chasing the Milky Way by Erin E. Moulton is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 620L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Chasing the Milky Way appropriate for?

Chasing the Milky Way is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9ME (Moderate — Emotional). Content flags: Mental Health, Family Change.

What genre is Chasing the Milky Way?

Chasing the Milky Way is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does Chasing the Milky Way have any content warnings?

Chasing the Milky Way has a HootRating of 9ME (Moderate — Emotional). Content flags include: Mental Health, Family Change. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Chasing the Milky Way?

Chasing the Milky Way by Erin E. Moulton is 283 pages (approximately 65,420 words).

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

Chasing the Milky Way

Erin E. Moulton

Chasing the Milky Way

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Erin E. Moulton

Reading Level 4-5 9ME Ages 9-12 Matched

The text is written at a 4th 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

When their mother struggles with mental illness, a group of siblings must find strength in each other to navigate the challenges that come their way. Together, they discover the power of family bonds and resilience in the face of hardship. This heartfelt tale explores how love and unity can help overcome difficult times.

Themes

Family Coming of AgeEmotional Resilience

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 4-5 book with moderate content intensity. Content themes include mental health, family change. Written for readers ages 9-12.

Why we rated Chasing the Milky Way 9ME

Chasing the Milky Way is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 620L across 283 pages (approximately 65,420 words). Strong independent readers around grade 5.2 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Chasing the Milky Way works for readers up to grade 6.2.

Read aloud, Chasing the Milky Way runs about 7.3 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.

We rate Chasing the Milky Way as 9ME ("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 — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mental Health, Family Change.

Thematically, Chasing the Milky Way explores family, coming of age, and emotional resilience — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers. Each of these themes is concrete enough to seed a real conversation, not just a moral lesson.

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 family, coming of age, emotional resilience.

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.