What reading level is Mary Anne and the Silent Witness?

Mary Anne and the Silent Witness by Ann M. Martin is at a Level 4-5 reading level. Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Mary Anne and the Silent Witness appropriate for?

Mary Anne and the Silent Witness is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9LP (Light — Physical). Content flags: Mild Peril.

What genre is Mary Anne and the Silent Witness?

Mary Anne and the Silent Witness is fiction — Juvenile Fiction. Part of the Baby-Sitters Club Mystery series.

Does Mary Anne and the Silent Witness have any content warnings?

Mary Anne and the Silent Witness has a HootRating of 9LP (Light — Physical). Content flags include: Mild Peril. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Mary Anne and the Silent Witness?

Mary Anne and the Silent Witness by Ann M. Martin is 147 pages (approximately 28,356 words).

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

Mary Anne and the Silent Witness

Ann M. Martin

Mary Anne and the Silent Witness

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Ann M. Martin

Baby-Sitters Club Mystery

Reading Level 4-5 9LP Ages 9-12 Balanced Read Page-Turner

The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.

Buy on Amazon Listen on Audible

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

About This Book

Mary Anne is determined to earn the trust of Luke, the shy eight-year-old she's babysitting, who might know secrets about a suspicious fire. As she digs deeper, she uncovers clues that could stop a greedy developer from ruining their town. Can Mary Anne solve the mystery before it's too late?

Themes

Mystery Friendship AdventureChildren

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 4-5 book with mild content intensity. Content themes include mild peril. Written for readers ages 9-12.

Why we rated Mary Anne and the Silent Witness 9LP

Mary Anne and the Silent Witness is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 147 pages (approximately 28,356 words). Strong independent readers around grade 5.6 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Mary Anne and the Silent Witness works for readers up to grade 6.6.

Read aloud, Mary Anne and the Silent Witness runs about 3.2 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.

We rate Mary Anne and the Silent Witness as 9LP ("Light — Physical") 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.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mild Peril.

Thematically, Mary Anne and the Silent Witness explores mystery, friendship, adventure, and children — 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.
✓ Reluctant readers who need fast-paced, hook-heavy stories to stay engaged.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about mystery, friendship, adventure.
✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there are 8 more books in the Baby-Sitters Club Mystery series.