Poisoned
Jennifer Donnelly
Poisoned
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Jennifer Donnelly
The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
Here’s a secret: Sophie thought she was just a helpless princess, but the truth is far darker and more powerful. When the huntsman takes her heart, nothing is as it seems — but that’s only the beginning.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Poisoned is a young adult fantasy novel that reimagines a classic fairy tale with themes of self-discovery, empowerment, and the complexity of good versus evil. Suitable for teens 13 and older, it explores darker fantasy elements and emotional challenges, emphasizing kindness and inner strength. Parents should be aware of intense themes such as betrayal and magic, but the story ultimately delivers a positive message about resilience.
Why we rated Poisoned 12ME
Poisoned is written at a Level 7 reading level across 320 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Poisoned works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Poisoned as 12ME ("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, thematic difficulty — 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, Poisoned explores fantasy, fairy tales & folklore, adaptations, young adult fiction, and coming of age — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about fantasy, fairy tales & folklore, adaptations.
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
12ME — 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
- 9781338268515
- Pages
- 320
- Publisher
- Scholastic Inc.
- Published
- 2020
- Type
- Fiction