Isle
Jordana Frankel
Isle
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Jordana Frankel
The text is written at a 6th 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
Ren is the fastest racer in a flooded New York, but her real power is the cure she’s protecting. When her sister Aven suddenly recovers from a deadly disease, everyone wants the healing water they hold—especially the dangerous Governor Voss. It’s a race not just for speed, but for survival, and the fate of their city hangs in the balance.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Isle is a science fiction adventure for middle-grade readers that follows two sisters navigating a flooded, dystopian New York City threatened by a deadly disease and a ruthless governor. The story explores themes of family, courage, and environmental challenges, suitable for ages 9-12. It contains mild peril and tension but no graphic content.
Why we rated Isle 11ME
Isle is written at a Level 6 reading level across 241 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Isle works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Isle 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.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.
Thematically, Isle explores sisters, science & nature, adventure, family, and friendship — 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 sisters, science & nature, adventure.
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
11ME — 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
- 9780062095398
- Pages
- 241
- Publisher
- HarperCollins
- Published
- 2016
- Type
- Fiction