What reading level is City of halves?

City of halves by Lucy Inglis is at a Level 3 reading level (Lexile 580L). Recommended for Lower Grades readers (Ages 5-8).

What age is City of halves appropriate for?

City of halves is recommended for Ages 5-8. HootRating: 8ME (Moderate — Emotional).

Does City of halves have any content warnings?

City of halves has a HootRating of 8ME (Moderate — 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 City of halves?

City of halves by Lucy Inglis is 357 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

City of halves

Lucy Inglis

City of halves

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Lucy Inglis

Reading Level 3 8ME Ages 5-8 Heads Up

The text is written at a 3rd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for younger children (ages 5–8), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.

Find on Amazon Listen on Audible

We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.

About This Book

What if the magical creatures from old legends started roaming your city’s streets? Imagine a world where ancient myths and modern technology collide, and only a brave girl and a mysterious guardian can stop a terrible danger. Can Lily and Regan solve the mystery before the city is torn apart?

Themes

MagicAdventureParanormal fictionFriendship Mystery

Quick Assessment

City of Halves is an urban fantasy novel blending ancient mythology with modern London, featuring a teenage protagonist who teams up with a supernatural guardian to stop a wave of mythological creatures threatening the city. Suitable for early readers aged 5-8, it contains themes of adventure, magic, and suspense, though some scenes may be intense for younger children. Parents should be aware of mild fantasy peril and a suspenseful mystery around missing children.

Why we rated City of halves 8ME

City of halves is written at a Level 3 reading level with a Lexile measure of 580L across 357 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 4.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, City of halves works for readers up to grade 5.0.

We rate City of halves as 8ME ("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, physical peril — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

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

Thematically, City of halves explores magic, adventure, paranormal fiction, friendship, and mystery — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.

Good fit for

✓ Children in the Ages 5-8 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about magic, adventure, paranormal fiction.