HootRated mascot HootRated

Deadly little voices

Laurie Faria Stolarz

Cover of Deadly little voices

Deadly little voices

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

a Touch novel

by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Touch

Reading Level 5-6 10ME Ages 13+ Matched

The text is written at a 5th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.

We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.

About This Book

Camelia, a high school junior with the power to sense the future through touch, starts hearing cruel voices that shake her confidence and grip on reality. As her troubled aunt moves in and her ex-boyfriend grows distant, Camelia finds solace in pottery, where her art reveals a chilling warning of impending danger. Struggling to protect others while battling her own fears, she must uncover the truth before it's too late.

Themes

Psychic AbilityHigh SchoolFamilyFriendshipArtComing of Age

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 5-6 book with moderate content intensity. Content themes include mental health, fear & anxiety, emotional: loss & grief. Written for readers ages 13+.

Why we rated Deadly little voices 10ME

Deadly little voices is written at a Level 5-6 reading level across 343 pages (approximately 71,532 words). Strong independent readers around grade 6.4 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Deadly little voices works for readers up to grade 7.4.

Read aloud, Deadly little voices runs about 8 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.

We rate Deadly little voices as 10ME ("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 — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mental Health, Fear & Anxiety, Emotional: Loss & Grief, Emotional: Identity & Self-Discovery.

Thematically, Deadly little voices explores psychic ability, high school, family, friendship, and art — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.

Good fit for

  • Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
  • Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
  • Kids drawn to stories about psychic ability, high school, family.
  • Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there are 2 more books in the Touch series.

Maybe not for

  • ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
  • ! Children currently coping with grief — the themes may hit close to home.

For Parents

Content Intensity

10ME — Moderate — Emotional
Emotional
Moderate
Physical
Clear
Social
Clear
Thematic
Clear

Real stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.

Content Flags

Mental Health Fear & Anxiety Emotional: Loss & Grief Emotional: Identity & Self-Discovery
Data confidence: standard

Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

4/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

4/10

Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
4
Emotional Weight
6
Narrative Pace
5
Theme Richness
10
World Scope
1
Data Confidence
8

More in the Touch Series

Similar Books

Based on content and theme analysis

See all books like this →

Details

Book Length

343 pages
71,532 words
7h 57m read-aloud
ISBN
9781423131618
Pages
343
Publisher
Hyperion
Published
2011
Type
Fiction
Word Count
71,532
Read-Aloud
~7h 57m
Text Density
Standard

Genres

Subjects

PotteryPsychic AbilityAuntsHigh SchoolsSchoolsPsychicsCeramics