From Above
Norah McClintock
From Above
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Norah McClintock
The text is written at a 6th 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
The sharp scent of rain mixes with the crisp autumn air as footsteps echo down the empty school hallway. Riley Donovan’s heart races with every secret uncovered about the star football player’s mysterious death. The silence holds more than just questions—it holds the truth waiting to be found.
Themes
Quick Assessment
From Above is a middle-grade mystery centered on Riley Donovan's quest to uncover the truth behind the death of a popular high school football player. Suitable for ages 9-12, the book explores themes of friendship, school life, and mystery-solving without graphic content. Parents should note the presence of a murder investigation, handled in an age-appropriate manner.
Why we rated From Above 11ME
From Above is written at a Level 6 reading level across 240 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, From Above works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate From Above as 11ME ("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, thematic difficulty — 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, From Above explores mystery, friendship, school, and coming of age — 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 mystery, friendship, school.
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
11ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" 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
- 9781459809338
- Pages
- 240
- Publisher
- Riley Donovan
- Published
- 2016
- Type
- Fiction