Of metal and wishes
Sarah Fine
Of metal and wishes
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Sarah Fine
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 mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
Smoke billows from towering factory chimneys as a girl races through narrow alleys, heart pounding. She's caught between a secret love and a ghostly protector who warns of danger lurking close. But when shadows close in, will she choose love or safety?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Set in a reimagined industrial Asia, this middle-grade novel blends romance and supernatural elements as a 16-year-old girl navigates love, social class divides, and a protective ghost. Themes include social prejudice and the challenges of balancing personal desires with external pressures. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story handles these issues with sensitivity and includes some mild supernatural suspense.
Why we rated Of metal and wishes 12MS
Of metal and wishes is written at a Level 7 reading level across 321 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Of metal and wishes works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Of metal and wishes as 12MS ("Moderate — Social") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. The strongest signals come from social complexity — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, Of metal and wishes explores romance, ghost stories, social classes, and prejudices — 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 romance, ghost stories, social classes.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12MS — Moderate — SocialLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781442483590
- Pages
- 321
- Publisher
- Simon and Schuster
- Published
- 2015
- Type
- Fiction