What reading level is Crusher?

Crusher by Niall Leonard is at a Level 6-7 reading level (Lexile 950L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Crusher appropriate for?

Crusher is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 11ME (Moderate — Emotional). Content flags: Murder, Mild Peril.

What genre is Crusher?

Crusher is fiction — Detective and mystery stories.

Does Crusher have any content warnings?

Crusher has a HootRating of 11ME (Moderate — Emotional). Content flags include: Murder, Mild Peril. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Crusher?

Crusher by Niall Leonard is 325 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

Crusher

Niall Leonard

Crusher

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Niall Leonard

Reading Level 6-7 11ME Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 6th 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

What would you do if you found out your dad was murdered — and everyone thinks you did it? Finn dives deep into London's shadowy streets, chasing clues that could clear his name. But the closer he gets to the truth, the more danger he finds — who can he really trust?

Themes

Family MysteryDetective and mystery storiesFathers and sons

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade mystery follows Finn, a boy who becomes the prime suspect in his father's murder and embarks on a tense quest through London's underworld to uncover the real killer. Appropriate for ages 9-12, the story contains themes of family secrets and suspenseful danger but handles them with the sensitivity suitable for this age group. Parents should note the presence of murder as a central plot element and some scenes of peril.

Why we rated Crusher 11ME

Crusher is written at a Level 6-7 reading level with a Lexile measure of 950L across 325 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Crusher works for readers up to grade 8.5.

We rate Crusher as 11ME ("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.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Murder, Mild Peril.

Thematically, Crusher explores family, mystery, detective and mystery stories, and fathers and sons — 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 family, mystery, detective and mystery stories.

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.