What reading level is Damned?

Damned by Nancy Holder is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 710L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Damned appropriate for?

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

Does Damned have any content warnings?

Damned 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 Damned?

Damned by Nancy Holder is 509 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

Damned

Nancy Holder

Damned

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Nancy Holder

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

I have a secret: Antonio fights alongside Jenn, his best friend and protector, holding back a dark hunger so he can stand by her side. Together, they battle creatures no one else dares to face, but danger is creeping closer. And that’s just the start of their story.

Themes

SupernaturalVampiresAdventure Friendship Coming of AgeHorror

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel blends supernatural action and horror as young protagonists Antonio and Jenn fight against vampire-like enemies threatening humanity. The story explores themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and leadership, with moderate suspense and intense moments suitable for ages 9-12 who enjoy thrilling fantasy adventure. Parents should note some dark themes and mild peril consistent with supernatural fiction.

Why we rated Damned 9ME

Damned is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 710L across 509 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Damned works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate Damned 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, physical peril — 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, Damned explores supernatural, vampires, adventure, friendship, 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, vampires, adventure.

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.