Count all her bones
April Henry
Count all her bones
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by April Henry
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes.
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About This Book
The sharp scent of pine and the crunch of dry leaves underfoot fill the air as Cheyenne races through the forest, her heart pounding louder than the footsteps chasing her. Blind but fiercely determined, she senses danger closing in, every sound a clue in her desperate fight to survive. Can she outsmart those who want to silence her forever?
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade thriller follows Cheyenne, a blind teen who, after escaping captivity once, faces new dangers as she tries to save her former captor from a deadly threat. The story includes themes of kidnapping, abuse, and trauma, along with moments of suspense and budding romance. Suitable for ages 9-12, parents should be aware of intense scenes involving child abuse, stalking, death, restraint, and hospital and mental institution settings.
Why we rated Count all her bones 11IE
Count all her bones is written at a Level 6 reading level across 227 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Count all her bones works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Count all her bones as 11IE ("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: Child Abuse, Stalking, Animal Death, Restraint, Parental Death, Kidnapping, Vomiting, Mental Institution Scene, Hospital Scene.
Thematically, Count all her bones explores disability representation, friendship, romance, adventure, and survival — 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 disability representation, friendship, romance.
Maybe not for
- ! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
- ! Children younger than 9-12 — the content intensity is above what most younger kids can process comfortably.
- ! Children currently coping with grief — the themes may hit close to home.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11IE — 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
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781250158741
- Pages
- 227
- Publisher
- Square Fish
- Published
- 2017
- Type
- Fiction