What reading level is Hunger?

Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler is at a Level 5-6 reading level (Lexile 770L). Recommended for Upper Grades readers (Ages 13+).

What age is Hunger appropriate for?

Hunger is recommended for Ages 13+. HootRating: 10IE (Intense — Emotional). Content flags: Emotional: Mental Health, Emotional: Identity & Self-Discovery.

What genre is Hunger?

Hunger is fiction — Juvenile Fiction. Part of the Riders of the Apocalypse series.

Does Hunger have any content warnings?

Hunger has a HootRating of 10IE (Intense — Emotional). Content flags include: Emotional: Mental Health, Emotional: Identity & Self-Discovery. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Hunger?

Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler is 177 pages (approximately 44,131 words).

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

Hunger

Jackie Morse Kessler

Hunger

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Jackie Morse Kessler

Riders of the Apocalypse

Reading Level 5-6 10IE Ages 13+ Heads Up

The text is written at a 5th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes.

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About This Book

At seventeen, Lisabeth battles anorexia while grappling with her new identity as Famine, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Despite her supernatural transformation, she struggles with feelings of worthlessness and a distorted self-image. This powerful tale explores the harsh realities of eating disorders and the fight for self-acceptance.

Themes

Coming of AgeMental HealthFantasy World-Building Social Justice

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 5-6 book with intense content intensity. Content themes include emotional: mental health, emotional: identity & self-discovery. Written for readers ages 13+.

Why we rated Hunger 10IE

Hunger is written at a Level 5-6 reading level with a Lexile measure of 770L across 177 pages (approximately 44,131 words). Strong independent readers around grade 6.4 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Hunger works for readers up to grade 7.4.

Read aloud, Hunger runs about 4.9 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.

We rate Hunger as 10IE ("Intense — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Intense" range — intense conflict including peril, frightening scenes, or emotionally heavy themes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Emotional: Mental Health, Emotional: Identity & Self-Discovery.

Thematically, Hunger explores coming of age, mental health, fantasy world-building, and social justice — 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.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about coming of age, mental health, fantasy world-building.

Maybe not for

! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
! Children younger than 13+ — the content intensity is above what most younger kids can process comfortably.