What reading level is Deception (Defiance Series, Book 2)?

Deception (Defiance Series, Book 2) by C. J. Redwine is at a Level 5-6 reading level (Lexile 860L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Deception (Defiance Series, Book 2) appropriate for?

Deception (Defiance Series, Book 2) is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 10ME (Moderate — Emotional).

What genre is Deception (Defiance Series, Book 2)?

Deception (Defiance Series, Book 2) is fiction — Young Adult Fiction.

Does Deception (Defiance Series, Book 2) have any content warnings?

Deception (Defiance Series, Book 2) has a HootRating of 10ME (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 Deception (Defiance Series, Book 2)?

Deception (Defiance Series, Book 2) by C. J. Redwine is 470 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

Deception (Defiance Series, Book 2)

C. J. Redwine

Deception (Defiance Series, Book 2)

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by C. J. Redwine

Reading Level 5-6 10ME Ages 9-12 Matched

The text is written at a 5th 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

Rachel dashes through the crumbled city, heart pounding as shadows close in. Suddenly, a scream pierces the air—someone in their group is in danger. But who is the enemy, and can Rachel and Logan protect everyone before it's too late?

Themes

FantasyAdventure SurvivalLove

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade fantasy adventure follows Rachel and Logan as they lead a group of survivors through a dangerous post-apocalyptic world. With themes of bravery, leadership, and trust, the story explores survival amid threats from rival armies and a mysterious killer within their ranks. Suitable for readers aged 9-12, it contains suspenseful moments and mild peril appropriate for this age group.

Why we rated Deception (Defiance Series, Book 2) 10ME

Deception (Defiance Series, Book 2) is written at a Level 5-6 reading level with a Lexile measure of 860L across 470 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 6.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Deception (Defiance Series, Book 2) works for readers up to grade 7.5.

We rate Deception (Defiance Series, Book 2) 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, 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, Deception (Defiance Series, Book 2) explores fantasy, adventure, survival, and love — 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 fantasy, adventure, survival.

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.