What reading level is Connect the stars?

Connect the stars by Marisa De los Santos is at a Level 5-6 reading level (Lexile 840L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Connect the stars appropriate for?

Connect the stars is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 10ME (Moderate — Emotional).

What genre is Connect the stars?

Connect the stars is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does Connect the stars have any content warnings?

Connect the stars has a HootRating of 10ME (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 Connect the stars?

Connect the stars by Marisa De los Santos is 341 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

Connect the stars

Marisa De los Santos

Connect the stars

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Marisa De los Santos

Reading Level 5-6 10ME 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

Aaron stumbles over a rocky path, his heart racing as the desert sun beats down. Audrey’s voice cuts through the silence, urging him forward, but a sudden shadow looms ahead—what could it be? Their adventure is just beginning, and everything is about to change.

Themes

AbilityAdventure FriendshipBullyingWildernessComing of Age

Quick Assessment

Connect the Stars is a middle grade novel about two thirteen-year-olds, Aaron and Audrey, who meet at a wilderness camp in the desert. Through their journey, they confront themes of bullying, self-acceptance, and coping with physical and mental challenges. Suitable for readers aged 9-12, the story offers a heartfelt exploration of friendship and resilience within an adventurous setting.

Why we rated Connect the stars 10ME

Connect the stars is written at a Level 5-6 reading level with a Lexile measure of 840L across 341 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 6.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Connect the stars works for readers up to grade 7.5.

We rate Connect the stars as 10ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. The strongest signals come from emotional weight — 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 mild intensity score.

Thematically, Connect the stars explores ability, adventure, friendship, bullying, and wilderness — 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.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about ability, adventure, friendship.