What reading level is Circle of secrets?

Circle of secrets by Kimberley Griffiths Little is at a Level 5 reading level (Lexile 800L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Circle of secrets appropriate for?

Circle of secrets is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 10LE (Light — Emotional). Content flags: Bullying, Fear & Anxiety, Loss & Grief.

What genre is Circle of secrets?

Circle of secrets is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does Circle of secrets have any content warnings?

Circle of secrets has a HootRating of 10LE (Light — Emotional). Content flags include: Bullying, Fear & Anxiety, Loss & Grief. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Circle of secrets?

Circle of secrets by Kimberley Griffiths Little is 338 pages (approximately 68,970 words).

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

Circle of secrets

Kimberley Griffiths Little

Circle of secrets

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Kimberley Griffiths Little

Reading Level 5 10LE Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 5th 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

When Shelby Jayne must move into her mother's mysterious home deep in the Louisiana bayou, she faces teasing classmates and eerie secrets hidden in a blue bottle tree. Befriending Gwen, a solitary girl with her own mysteries, Shelby embarks on a journey to uncover hidden messages and confront the ghosts of her past. With courage and faith, she discovers the strength to heal old wounds and find forgiveness.

Themes

Family FriendshipGhostsComing of AgeFaithMulticultural

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 5 book with mild content intensity. Content themes include bullying, fear & anxiety, loss & grief. Written for readers ages 9-12.

Why we rated Circle of secrets 10LE

Circle of secrets is written at a Level 5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 800L across 338 pages (approximately 68,970 words). Strong independent readers around grade 6.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Circle of secrets works for readers up to grade 7.0.

Read aloud, Circle of secrets runs about 7.7 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.

We rate Circle of secrets as 10LE ("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.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Bullying, Fear & Anxiety, Loss & Grief.

Thematically, Circle of secrets explores family, friendship, ghosts, coming of age, and faith — 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, friendship, ghosts.