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Haven

Kristi Cook

Cover of Haven

Haven

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Kristi Cook

Reading Level 8 12ME Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 8th 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

What if you could see the future—and the worst thing you fear actually happens? Violet's life changes forever after a terrifying vision comes true. At Winterhaven, a school full of kids with psychic powers, she discovers secrets and friendships that could save her—or put her in even more danger.

Themes

Paranormal fictionPsychic abilityBoarding schoolsFriendshipJuvenile fiction

Quick Assessment

Haven is a middle-grade paranormal fiction novel about Violet McKenna, a girl who grapples with the trauma of a premonition that becomes reality. Set in a boarding school for children with psychic abilities, the story explores themes of friendship, destiny, and danger, suitable for readers aged 9-12. Parents should note the presence of suspense and mild peril related to Violet's visions and the threats surrounding her.

Why we rated Haven 12ME

Haven is written at a Level 8 reading level across 401 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 9.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Haven works for readers up to grade 10.0.

We rate Haven 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 — 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, Haven explores paranormal fiction, psychic ability, boarding schools, friendship, and juvenile fiction — 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 paranormal fiction, psychic ability, boarding schools.

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 — Emotional
Emotional
Moderate
Physical
Light
Social
Clear
Thematic
Light

Real stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.

Data confidence: standard

Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

1/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

2/10

A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
7
Emotional Weight
6
Theme Richness
5
World Scope
3
Data Confidence
7

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Details

Book Length

401 pages
ISBN
9781442407619
Pages
401
Publisher
Simon and Schuster
Published
2012
Type
Fiction

Genres

Subjects

Paranormal FictionPsychic AbilityBoarding SchoolsSchoolsSupernaturalOrphansNew York

Places

New York (State)