Haze
E. L. Thomas
Haze
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by E. L. Thomas
The text is written at a 4th 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
What would you do if a secret on your swim team threatened to tear everything apart? Bram is caught in the middle when his friend gets hurt, and everyone’s looking for someone to blame. Can he uncover the truth before it’s too late?
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel explores themes of friendship, loyalty, and the challenges of hazing within a high school swim team. It addresses the effects of peer pressure and the importance of standing up for what’s right, making it appropriate for readers aged 9 to 12. Parents should note the presence of mild conflict related to youth sports and initiation rites.
Why we rated Haze 9LE
Haze is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 175 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Haze works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Haze as 9LE ("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, Haze explores friendship, sports, coming of age, and social justice — 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 friendship, sports, coming of age.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" 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
- 9781459800700
- Pages
- 175
- Publisher
- Orca Book Publishers
- Published
- 2012
- Type
- Fiction