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Remnants

Katherine Applegate

Cover of Remnants

Remnants

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Katherine Applegate

Remnants

Reading Level 4-5 9ME Ages 9-12 Matched

The text is written at a 4th 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

Centuries after a catastrophic asteroid strikes Earth, a group known as the Remnants awakens from a long sleep, eager to explore their old home. To make this dream come true, they must challenge a powerful agreement made with alien beings. Their journey is filled with mystery and the hope of reclaiming a lost world.

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 4-5 book with moderate content intensity. Content themes include physical danger, fear & anxiety. Written for readers ages 9-12.

Why we rated Remnants 9ME

Remnants is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 138 pages (approximately 23,089 words). Strong independent readers around grade 5.7 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Remnants works for readers up to grade 6.7.

Read aloud, Remnants runs about 2.6 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.

We rate Remnants as 9ME ("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.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Physical Danger, Fear & Anxiety.

Thematically, Remnants explores science & nature, adventure, survival, and fantasy world-building — 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.
  • Readers who like a steady plot with enough momentum to keep pages turning.
  • Kids drawn to stories about science & nature, adventure, survival.

Maybe not for

  • ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.

For Parents

Content Intensity

9ME — Moderate — Emotional
Emotional
Moderate
Physical
Moderate
Social
Clear
Thematic
Clear

Real stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.

Content Flags

Physical Danger Fear & Anxiety
Data confidence: standard

Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

5/10

Engaging read with solid pacing and interesting themes.

Discussion Potential

2/10

A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
4
Emotional Weight
6
Narrative Pace
5
Theme Richness
6
World Scope
1
Data Confidence
8

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Details

Book Length

138 pages
23,089 words
2h 34m read-aloud
ISBN
0590884948
Pages
138
Publisher
Scholastic Paperbacks
Published
2003-01
Type
Fiction
Word Count
23,089
Read-Aloud
~2h 34m
Text Density
Standard

Genres

Subjects

AsteroidsCollisions With Earth