What reading level is Conversion?

Conversion by Katherine Howe is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 770L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Conversion appropriate for?

Conversion is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9ME (Moderate — Emotional).

What genre is Conversion?

Conversion is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does Conversion have any content warnings?

Conversion has a HootRating of 9ME (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 Conversion?

Conversion by Katherine Howe is 402 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

Conversion

Katherine Howe

Conversion

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Katherine Howe

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

Colleen’s classmates start twitching and jerking in ways no one can explain, and whispers swirl around the school like a storm. Panic spreads through the town, but Colleen knows a secret that no one else remembers — a strange sickness struck this very place centuries ago. As history begins to repeat itself, will Colleen uncover the truth before it’s too late?

Themes

Horror & Ghost StoriesFriendshipSocial IssuesPreparatory schoolsEpidemics

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade horror story follows Colleen as she navigates a mysterious epidemic at her school in Danvers, Massachusetts, which echoes a similar event from the town’s dark past during the Salem witch trials era. Suitable for ages 9-12, the book explores themes of friendship, fear, and social panic in a suspenseful but age-appropriate manner. Parents should be aware of some mild horror elements and the portrayal of social anxiety and rumors.

Why we rated Conversion 9ME

Conversion is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 770L across 402 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Conversion works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate Conversion 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, social complexity — 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, Conversion explores horror & ghost stories, friendship, social issues, preparatory schools, and epidemics — 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 horror & ghost stories, friendship, social issues.

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.