Lily Dale.
Wendy Corsi Staub
Lily Dale.
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Awakening
by Wendy Corsi Staub
The text is written at a 6th 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
Here’s a secret: Calla thought she knew everything about her mom—until she visits her grandmother in the mysterious town of Lily Dale. This isn’t just any town; it’s full of people who can sense things others can’t. But that’s only the beginning.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows 17-year-old Calla as she copes with the sudden loss of her mother by staying with her psychic grandmother in a unique spiritualist community. The story blends themes of family, mystery, and psychic abilities, appropriate for ages 9-12, with no intense content. It gently explores grief and self-discovery within a supernatural setting.
Why we rated Lily Dale. 11LE
Lily Dale. is written at a Level 6 reading level across 228 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Lily Dale. works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Lily Dale. as 11LE ("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, Lily Dale. explores psychic ability, family, mystery, grief, 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 psychic ability, family, mystery.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11LE — 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
- 9780802796547
- Pages
- 228
- Publisher
- Bloomsbury Publishing USA
- Published
- 2007
- Type
- Fiction