Harvest
Richie Tankersley Cusick
Harvest
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Richie Tankersley Cusick
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
The night air smells sharp and cold, carrying whispers of danger and secrets. Every shadow in Sunnydale seems to twitch with hidden magic and lurking creatures. You can feel Buffy’s heart race as she steps into a world where nothing is quite what it seems—and normal might be the scariest thing of all.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Harvest is a young adult horror novel featuring a new student, Buffy Summers, who uncovers supernatural threats in her new town. The story includes themes of fantasy and horror, with some intense moments such as an animal's death and an amputation. Suitable for readers aged 13 and older who enjoy suspenseful, supernatural fiction.
Why we rated Harvest 9ME
Harvest is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 146 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Harvest works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Harvest as 9ME ("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: Animal Death, Amputation.
Thematically, Harvest explores horror & ghost stories, fantasy & magic, coming of age, and adventure — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about horror & ghost stories, fantasy & magic, coming of age.
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.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9ME — 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
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
- 9780613730457
- Pages
- 146
- Publisher
- Turtleback Books
- Published
- September 1997
- Type
- Fiction