Long shadows

Name: Long shadows
Author: Erin Hunter
ISBN: 9780060892142

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Erin Hunter

Warriors: The Power of Three

Reading Level 5-6 ME · Moderate · Emotional Ages 9-12 Matched

The text is written at a 5th 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. Its HootRating code, ME, means moderate content, mostly emotional.

Find on Amazon Listen on Audible Find on Bookshop.org

We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.

About This Book

In a world where ancient warrior cats face a crisis of faith, three brave siblings struggle to protect their clan's sacred traditions. As mysterious threats and dark prophecies loom, they embark on a perilous journey to uncover forgotten truths and keep their family united. Danger and secrets lurk close to home, challenging their loyalty and courage in unexpected ways.

Themes

Fantasy World-Building Adventure Family Friendship

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 5-6 book with moderate content intensity. Content themes include fear & anxiety, violence, mystery. Written for readers ages 9-12.

Why we rated Long shadows ME (Moderate)

Long shadows is written at a Level 5-6 reading level across 364 pages (approximately 74,437 words). Reading-wise, most kids in grade 6 and up can manage Long shadows on their own; younger readers can enjoy it with a parent or teacher reading along.

Read aloud, Long shadows runs about 8.3 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.

We rate Long shadows as ME (Moderate, mostly 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: Fear & Anxiety, Violence, Mystery.

Thematically, Long shadows explores fantasy world-building, 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.
✓ Readers who like a steady plot with enough momentum to keep pages turning.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about fantasy world-building, adventure, family.
✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there are 5 more books in the Warriors: The Power of Three series.

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.

For Parents

Content Intensity

ME · Moderate · Emotional

Emotional

Moderate ←

Physical

Moderate

Social

Gentle

Thematic

Gentle

Reading the HootRating code: the first letter is the content intensity (C = Gentle · L = Mild · M = Moderate · I = Intense · V = Very Intense); the second, when there is one, is the kind of content that drives it (E = Emotional · P = Physical · S = Social · T = Thematic). Reading level and age range are rated separately. How we rate

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