Far away and ever after
Cheryl Fassett
Far away and ever after
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Cheryl Fassett
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
I have a secret: Delia’s life is about to change forever. One day, her safe place—the cozy bookstore—goes silent and locked up tight, and her friend Sunny Rea vanishes without a trace. But that’s only the beginning of a magical journey where dark queens lurk and unlikely heroes must rise.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fantasy novel follows Delia, an orphaned girl who finds friendship and family in an unexpected place before being swept into a magical realm to confront an evil queen. Themes of friendship, courage, and good versus evil are explored with mild peril appropriate for ages 9-12. Parents should be aware of fantasy violence and themes of bullying.
Why we rated Far away and ever after 11LE
Far away and ever after is written at a Level 6 reading level across 254 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Far away and ever after works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Far away and ever after as 11LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mild Peril, Bullying, Fantasy Violence.
Thematically, Far away and ever after explores fantasy world-building, friendship, good and evil, adventure, and magic — 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 world-building, friendship, good and evil.
Maybe not for
- ! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Content Flags
Was our "Mild" 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
- 9781970006001
- Pages
- 254
- Publisher
- HoboCat Publishing
- Published
- 2015
- Type
- Fiction