What reading level is Running out of night?

Running out of night by Sharon Lovejoy is at a Level 5-6 reading level (Lexile 830L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Running out of night appropriate for?

Running out of night is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 10IE (Intense — Emotional). Content flags: Abuse, Runaway.

What genre is Running out of night?

Running out of night is fiction — African Americans.

Does Running out of night have any content warnings?

Running out of night has a HootRating of 10IE (Intense — Emotional). Content flags include: Abuse, Runaway. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Running out of night?

Running out of night by Sharon Lovejoy is 287 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

Running out of night

Sharon Lovejoy

Running out of night

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Sharon Lovejoy

Reading Level 5-6 10IE Ages 9-12 Matched

The text is written at a 5th 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 sharp scent of pine fills the cool night air as footsteps crunch softly over dry leaves. Two girls, each carrying heavy secrets, slip quietly through the shadows, hearts pounding with hope and fear. Their journey toward freedom is just beginning, and every step holds the promise of a new dawn.

Themes

FriendshipRace relationsRunawaysJuvenile fiction

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel follows the story of a twelve-year-old white girl escaping abuse and an escaped slave girl who forge a powerful friendship while seeking freedom. It sensitively explores themes of race relations and resilience, appropriate for readers aged 9 to 12. Parents should be aware of mature topics like abuse and runaway experiences, which are handled with care but may prompt discussion.

Why we rated Running out of night 10IE

Running out of night is written at a Level 5-6 reading level with a Lexile measure of 830L across 287 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 6.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Running out of night works for readers up to grade 7.5.

We rate Running out of night as 10IE ("Intense — 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, social complexity — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Abuse, Runaway.

Thematically, Running out of night explores friendship, race relations, runaways, and juvenile fiction — 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 friendship, race relations, runaways.

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.