What reading level is Pie in the Sky?

Pie in the Sky by Jane Smiley is at a Level 6-7 reading level (Lexile 960L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Pie in the Sky appropriate for?

Pie in the Sky is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 11LE (Light — Emotional).

What genre is Pie in the Sky?

Pie in the Sky is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does Pie in the Sky have any content warnings?

Pie in the Sky has a HootRating of 11LE (Light — Emotional). No specific content flags noted. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Pie in the Sky?

Pie in the Sky by Jane Smiley is 274 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated July 16, 2026

Pie in the Sky

Jane Smiley

Pie in the Sky

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Jane Smiley

Reading Level 6-7 11LE Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 6th 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

Abby Lovitt is the only one brave enough to train Pie in the Sky, the most stubborn horse on the ranch. As she wrestles with this wild spirit, she also faces the ups and downs of being a freshman in the 1970s. What happens when a girl and a horse both refuse to be tamed?

Themes

HorsesTrainingChristian lifeFriendshipFamily life

Quick Assessment

Set in 1970s Northern California, this middle-grade novel follows Abby Lovitt as she takes on the challenge of training a difficult horse named Pie in the Sky while navigating the complexities of freshman year. The story explores themes of friendship, family, and Christian values, offering a thoughtful look at personal growth and responsibility suitable for ages 9-12. There is no intense content, making it a positive, age-appropriate read for middle-grade readers.

Why we rated Pie in the Sky 11LE

Pie in the Sky is written at a Level 6-7 reading level with a Lexile measure of 960L across 274 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Pie in the Sky works for readers up to grade 8.5.

We rate Pie in the Sky as 11LE ("Light — Emotional") 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.

No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.

Thematically, Pie in the Sky explores horses, training, christian life, friendship, and family life — 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 horses, training, christian life.

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.