Home
Sarah Prineas
Home
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Sarah Prineas
Illustrated by Caparó, Antonio Javier, illustrator
The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.
About This Book
What if you finally earned a big promotion but nobody believed you deserved it? Imagine being Conn, a young wizard labeled a thief no matter what you do. Now, magical stones are disappearing and spells are failing—can Conn protect the city before everything falls apart?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Home is the fourth book in Sarah Prineas's Magic Thief series, featuring a young wizard named Conn who struggles to prove his innocence while facing growing magical dangers. Appropriate for ages 9-12, this middle grade fantasy explores themes of trust, responsibility, and bravery amid magical conflict. Parents should note the story includes mild peril and fantasy violence typical of the genre.
Why we rated Home 12LP
Home is written at a Level 7 reading level across 397 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Home works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Home as 12LP ("Light — Physical") 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.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mild Peril, Fantasy Violence.
Thematically, Home explores fantasy, magic, wizards, adventure, and coming of age — 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 fantasy, magic, wizards.
Maybe not for
- ! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12LP — Light — PhysicalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Content Flags
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
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
Magic Thief
Sarah Prineas
Magic Thief
Sarah Prineas
Magyk
Angie Sage
Magyk
Angie Sage
Long Road Home
West Hand
Long Road Home
West Hand
School of Wizardry
Debra Doyle
School of Wizardry
Debra Doyle
Home
Alex T. Smith
Home
Alex T. Smith
Home in Ithaca
Ernest Gabrielson
Home in Ithaca
Ernest Gabrielson
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780062209542
- Pages
- 397
- Publisher
- HarperCollins
- Published
- 2014
- Type
- Fiction