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Hunter's Heart (Exceptional Reading & Language Arts Titles for Upper Grades)

Julia Green

Cover of Hunter's Heart (Exceptional Reading & Language Arts Titles for Upper Grades)

Hunter's Heart (Exceptional Reading & Language Arts Titles for Upper Grades)

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Julia Green

Reading Level 6 11ME Ages 13+ Matched

The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.

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About This Book

Simon isn’t just any kid—he’s obsessed with hunting and weapons, and nothing can pull him away. But when a mysterious girl with her own secrets moves in nearby, his summer in the Cornish countryside takes a surprising turn. What happens next changes everything Simon thought he knew about bravery and trust.

Quick Assessment

Hunter's Heart follows fourteen-year-old Simon as he spends a summer in the Cornish countryside, grappling with family tensions and his fascination with hunting and weapons. The story touches on complex social issues, including family dynamics and adolescent challenges, appropriate for teens aged 13 and up. Parents should note the presence of themes related to violence and mature emotional content.

Why we rated Hunter's Heart (Exceptional Reading & Language Arts Titles for Upper Grades) 11ME

Hunter's Heart (Exceptional Reading & Language Arts Titles for Upper Grades) is written at a Level 6 reading level across 254 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Hunter's Heart (Exceptional Reading & Language Arts Titles for Upper Grades) works for readers up to grade 8.0.

We rate Hunter's Heart (Exceptional Reading & Language Arts Titles for Upper Grades) as 11ME ("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 — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Violence.

Thematically, Hunter's Heart (Exceptional Reading & Language Arts Titles for Upper Grades) explores family, coming of age, social issues, and friendship — 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.
  • Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
  • Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
  • Kids drawn to stories about family, coming of age, social issues.

Maybe not for

  • ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
  • ! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.
  • ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.

For Parents

Content Intensity

11ME — Moderate — Emotional
Emotional
Moderate
Physical
Moderate
Social
Light
Thematic
Light

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

Content Flags

Violence
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

4/10

Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
5
Emotional Weight
6
Theme Richness
5
World Scope
1
Data Confidence
7

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Details

Book Length

254 pages
ISBN
9780761394938
Pages
254
Publisher
Carolrhoda Books
Published
December 27, 2006
Type
Fiction

Genres

Subjects

Social IssuesViolenceYoung Adult FictionChapter BooksEmotions & FeelingsFamily ProblemsHuntingInterpersonal RelationsDysfunctional FamiliesSingle-parent FamiliesHunting StoriesFamily LifeCornwall