Cicada in the Light
Alaya Dawn Johnson
Cicada in the Light
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Alaya Dawn Johnson
The text is written at a 8th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes.
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About This Book
What if the fate of the world rested in your hands, but the enemy was a powerful war god? Deep beneath the Library's twisting tunnels, secrets of injustice and war hide in the shadows. Can Freida, with her unique connection to the gods, uncover the truth before it's too late?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This young adult novel follows Freida, a girl with a rare connection to gods, as she navigates a dystopian world filled with racial injustice and looming war. Set in a richly imagined underground Library, the story tackles themes of oppression, identity, and the power of storytelling. Suitable for teens 13 and older, it contains intense themes and complex narrative elements that invite thoughtful discussion.
Why we rated Cicada in the Light 12IE
Cicada in the Light is written at a Level 8 reading level across 448 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 9.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Cicada in the Light works for readers up to grade 10.0.
We rate Cicada in the Light as 12IE ("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, physical peril, social complexity, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Racial Injustice, War, Oppression.
Thematically, Cicada in the Light explores dystopian, science fiction, diversity & multicultural, coming of age, and social justice — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about dystopian, science fiction, diversity & multicultural.
Maybe not for
- ! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
- ! Children younger than 13+ — the content intensity is above what most younger kids can process comfortably.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12IE — Intense — EmotionalHeavy themes explored in depth. War, death, abuse addressed directly.
Content Flags
Was our "Intense" 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
- 9781338290622
- Pages
- 448
- Publisher
- Scholastic Press
- Published
- 2023
- Type
- Fiction