Freedom trials
Meredith Tate
Freedom trials
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Meredith Tate
The text is written at a 7th 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
Evelyn’s heart races as she faces the latest challenge in the Freedom Trials—one wrong move could mean the end. Surrounded by prisoners who want revenge and memories she can’t recall, every step is a test of survival. Suddenly, a new arrival drops a secret that could change everything, but trusting her might be more dangerous than the trials themselves.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Freedom Trials follows Evelyn Summers, a young prisoner forced to compete in seven intense challenges to earn her freedom, despite having no memory of her alleged crime. Suitable for ages 9-12, this middle grade novel explores themes of survival, secrecy, and trust, with some suspenseful situations and mild peril. Parents should know the story includes tense moments around imprisonment and the threat of execution, but it is handled appropriately for this age group.
Why we rated Freedom trials 12ME
Freedom trials is written at a Level 7 reading level across 391 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Freedom trials works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Freedom trials as 12ME ("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: Mild Peril, Suspense.
Thematically, Freedom trials explores contests, memory, prisoners, secrecy, and survival — 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 contests, memory, prisoners.
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.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12ME — 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
1/10A 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
- 9781624145995
- Pages
- 391
- Publisher
- Page Street Publishing
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction