Hawthorn
Carol Goodman
Hawthorn
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Carol Goodman
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
Did you know Avaline Hall has a secret power that even her closest friends don't fully understand? As shadows creep closer and nations march toward war, she faces a villain who could tear both her world and Faerie apart. But that's only the beginning.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Set during the tumultuous period of World War I, this middle-grade fantasy novel follows Avaline Hall and her friends as they confront a dark force threatening both the human and Faerie realms. Suitable for readers ages 9-12, the story blends historical elements with magic and paranormal themes, offering an adventurous and suspenseful narrative. Parents should note the presence of conflict related to war and supernatural dangers, presented in an age-appropriate manner.
Why we rated Hawthorn 12ME
Hawthorn is written at a Level 8 reading level across 406 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 9.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Hawthorn works for readers up to grade 10.0.
We rate Hawthorn 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, 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, Hawthorn explores world war, magic, paranormal fiction, fairies, and adventure — 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 world war, magic, paranormal fiction.
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
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780670784783
- Pages
- 406
- Publisher
- Viking Books for Young Readers
- Published
- 2015
- Type
- Fiction