Renegade
Kerry Wilkinson
Renegade
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Novel
by Kerry Wilkinson
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
The sharp clang of metal echoes in the cold air as the renegade slips through shadowed corridors. The scent of burning oil and strange machines fills the underground world where kings and queens rule with iron fists. In this high-stakes fight for survival, every step could change the fate of the future.
Quick Assessment
Renegade is a middle-grade science fiction adventure set in a world ruled by monarchs entwined with advanced technology. Suitable for readers aged 9-12, it explores themes of survival, escape, and leadership through challenging situations. The story contains mild peril but is appropriate for middle-grade readers looking for an engaging and thought-provoking tale.
Why we rated Renegade 12LE
Renegade is written at a Level 7 reading level across 368 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Renegade works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Renegade as 12LE ("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, Renegade explores adventure, survival, science & nature, fantasy world-building, and family — 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 adventure, survival, science & nature.
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
12LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781250061331
- Pages
- 368
- Publisher
- Macmillan
- Published
- 2015
- Type
- Fiction