Maya and the Rising Dark
Rena Barron
Maya and the Rising Dark
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Rena Barron
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.
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About This Book
Twelve-year-old Maya learns that her father guards the portal to a shadowy realm, and when he disappears, she must awaken her hidden abilities to battle eerie creatures determined to ignite a dangerous conflict. Facing mysterious forces, Maya embarks on a thrilling adventure to protect both worlds from descending into chaos.
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 5-6 book with moderate content intensity. Content themes include fantasy violence, physical danger, fear & anxiety. Written for readers ages 9-12.
Why we rated Maya and the Rising Dark 10ME
Maya and the Rising Dark is written at a Level 5-6 reading level across 304 pages (approximately 61,958 words). Strong independent readers around grade 6.2 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Maya and the Rising Dark works for readers up to grade 7.2.
Read aloud, Maya and the Rising Dark runs about 6.9 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.
We rate Maya and the Rising Dark as 10ME ("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: Fantasy Violence, Physical Danger, Fear & Anxiety.
Thematically, Maya and the Rising Dark explores fantasy world-building, adventure, coming of age, and family — 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.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about fantasy world-building, adventure, coming of age.
- ✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there is one more book in the Maya and the Rising Dark 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
10ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Content Flags
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
5/10Engaging read with solid pacing and interesting themes.
Discussion Potential
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781328635181
- Pages
- 304
- Publisher
- Clarion Books
- Published
- 2020
- Type
- Fiction
- Word Count
- 61,958
- Read-Aloud
- ~6h 53m
- Text Density
- Standard