Game of secrets
Kimberley Foster
Game of secrets
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Kimberley Foster
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
The damp cobblestones echo with footsteps and whispers in foggy Victorian London. Amid the scent of fresh flowers and coal smoke, Felicity hides a secret that could change everything—she's not like the others. Now, caught between shadowy hunters and a school for special kids, her heart races with fear and hope, but what will she choose when loyalty is tested?
Quick Assessment
Set in Victorian London, this middle-grade novel follows Felicity, a young girl who discovers she has extraordinary abilities and is taken to a secret school to train as an assassin for the crown. The book explores themes of identity, acceptance, and courage in the face of prejudice and danger. Suitable for ages 9-12, it contains some suspense and mild peril but is appropriate for its intended audience.
Why we rated Game of secrets 12ME
Game of secrets is written at a Level 7 reading level across 356 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Game of secrets works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Game of secrets 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.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.
Thematically, Game of secrets explores adventure, historical, fantasy world-building, coming of age, and friendship — 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.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about adventure, historical, fantasy world-building.
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.
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
5/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781510716445
- Pages
- 356
- Publisher
- Sky Pony
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction