Hanging by a thread
Sophie Littlefield
Hanging by a thread
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Sophie Littlefield
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
Clare’s fingers brush the torn sleeve, and suddenly, the past floods her mind—whispers of a secret no one wants uncovered. Another person has vanished right before Fourth of July in Winston, and Clare’s visions might be the only way to find them. But the closer she gets, the more danger surrounds her—can she stay one step ahead?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade mystery follows sixteen-year-old Clare Knight, who possesses the unique ability to see visions of people’s pasts by touching their clothing. When multiple disappearances occur in her town, Clare uses her gift to uncover hidden truths, facing danger along the way. Appropriate for ages 9-12, the book explores themes of family, courage, and self-discovery without explicit content.
Why we rated Hanging by a thread 11LE
Hanging by a thread is written at a Level 6 reading level across 270 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Hanging by a thread works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Hanging by a thread 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.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, Hanging by a thread explores family, mystery, coming of age, adventure, and fashion design — 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about family, mystery, coming of age.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A 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
- 9780385741057
- Pages
- 270
- Publisher
- Ember
- Published
- 2013
- Type
- Fiction