On the free
Coert Voorhees
On the free
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Coert Voorhees
The text is written at a 6th 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
The crisp scent of pine fills the air as mud slides thunder down the mountain, shaking the ground beneath their feet. Santi, Amelia, and Victor find themselves stranded in the wild, with nothing but the forest around them and secrets they can't share. As the cold night closes in, can they learn to trust each other before it’s too late?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows three troubled youths enrolled in a wilderness therapy program after brushes with the juvenile justice system. When a mudslide leaves them stranded in the Colorado wilderness, they must navigate survival challenges while confronting personal struggles and learning to cooperate. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story explores themes of resilience, teamwork, and personal growth with some references to juvenile delinquency.
Why we rated On the free 11ME
On the free is written at a Level 6 reading level across 274 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, On the free works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate On the free as 11ME ("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.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.
Thematically, On the free explores hispanic americans, camping, survival, juvenile delinquency, 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.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about hispanic americans, camping, survival.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781512429138
- Pages
- 274
- Publisher
- Carolrhoda Lab ®
- Published
- 2017
- Type
- Fiction