Flooded
Ann E. Burg
Flooded
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Ann E. Burg
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
When a massive dam bursts, a small town is swept away by a devastating flood. Through the eyes of six children, the story reveals the courage of everyday people facing loss, survival, and the fight for justice against those who ignored the danger. This powerful tale is told in vivid verse, capturing both the disaster and its aftermath.
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 5-6 book with moderate content intensity. Content themes include loss & grief, physical danger, social justice. Written for readers ages 9-12.
Why we rated Flooded 10ME
Flooded is written at a Level 5-6 reading level across 336 pages (approximately 21,752 words). Strong independent readers around grade 6.4 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Flooded works for readers up to grade 7.4.
Read aloud, Flooded runs about 2.4 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.
We rate Flooded 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.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Loss & Grief, Physical Danger, Social Justice.
Thematically, Flooded explores historical, survival, family, and social justice — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers. Each of these themes is concrete enough to seed a real conversation, not just a moral lesson.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Readers who like a steady plot with enough momentum to keep pages turning.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about historical, survival, family.
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 — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Content Flags
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
5/10Engaging read with solid pacing and interesting themes.
Discussion Potential
6/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781338540697
- Pages
- 336
- Publisher
- Scholastic Press
- Published
- 2020
- Type
- Fiction
- Word Count
- 21,752
- Read-Aloud
- ~2h 25m
- Text Density
- Light Text