Not Even Bones
Rebecca Schaeffer
Not Even Bones
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Betrayal is a bloody business
by Rebecca Schaeffer
The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes.
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About This Book
What would you do if your mom sold magical monster body parts on the black market? Nita never wanted to be part of it, just the one who carefully dissected the creatures. But when her mom brings home a living boy, everything changes—and Nita’s own secret powers might be the key to her survival.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Not Even Bones is a dark fantasy novel about a teenage girl involved in her mother's illicit trade of supernatural body parts. Suitable for mature middle-grade readers (ages 9-12), it explores complex themes including family relationships, identity, and morality, with some intense and potentially disturbing scenes involving dissection and violence. Parents should be aware of the book’s graphic content and supernatural elements.
Why we rated Not Even Bones 12IP
Not Even Bones is written at a Level 7 reading level across 368 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Not Even Bones works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Not Even Bones as 12IP ("Intense — Physical") because the content sits in the "Intense" range — intense conflict including peril, frightening scenes, or emotionally heavy themes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, physical peril, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Violence, Dark Themes, Disturbing Content.
Thematically, Not Even Bones explores mothers and daughters, monsters, black market, fantasy world-building, 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.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about mothers and daughters, monsters, black market.
Maybe not for
- ! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
- ! Children younger than 9-12 — the content intensity is above what most younger kids can process comfortably.
- ! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12IP — Intense — PhysicalHeavy themes explored in depth. War, death, abuse addressed directly.
Content Flags
Was our "Intense" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781328863546
- Pages
- 368
- Publisher
- Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
- Published
- 4 September 2018
- Type
- Fiction