Cryer's Cross
Lisa McMann
Cryer's Cross
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Lisa McMann
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
Kendall races through the fields, heart pounding as the sun sets over Cryer's Cross. Two teenagers have vanished without a trace, and everyone’s whispering about what’s lurking in the shadows. Suddenly, a chilling sound breaks the silence—what could it be?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows 17-year-old Kendall, who lives in a small Montana town plagued by mysterious disappearances. Kendall’s struggle with obsessive-compulsive disorder adds depth to the story as she navigates fear and uncertainty. Suitable for ages 9-12, the book explores themes of mystery, interpersonal relationships, and the supernatural, with some suspenseful moments.
Why we rated Cryer's Cross 11ME
Cryer's Cross is written at a Level 6 reading level across 258 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Cryer's Cross works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Cryer's Cross 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, thematic difficulty — 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, Cryer's Cross explores supernatural, mystery, interpersonal relations, and coming of age — 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 supernatural, mystery, interpersonal relations.
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.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781416994824
- Pages
- 258
- Publisher
- Simon and Schuster
- Published
- 2011
- Type
- Fiction