What reading level is Saint Anything?

Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen is at a Level 3-4 reading level (Lexile 690L). Recommended for Lower Grades readers (Ages 5-8).

What age is Saint Anything appropriate for?

Saint Anything is recommended for Ages 5-8. HootRating: 8IE (Intense — Emotional). Content flags: Drunk Driving.

What genre is Saint Anything?

Saint Anything is fiction — Young Adult Fiction.

Does Saint Anything have any content warnings?

Saint Anything has a HootRating of 8IE (Intense — Emotional). Content flags include: Drunk Driving. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Saint Anything?

Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen is 417 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

Saint Anything

Sarah Dessen

Saint Anything

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

a novel

by Sarah Dessen

Reading Level 3-4 8IE Ages 5-8 Heads Up

The text is written at a 3rd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for younger children (ages 5–8), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.

Find on Amazon Listen on Audible

We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.

About This Book

Some siblings shine so bright, they make everyone else feel invisible. Sydney's brother Peyton steals the spotlight — but when his choices land him in trouble, Sydney has to find her own way. What happens when the family you know isn't enough, and a new one shows you what love really means?

Themes

Brothers and SistersFamily Friendship Coming of Age

Quick Assessment

Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen explores the challenges a young girl faces when her brother's mistakes disrupt their family life. Suitable for early readers, ages 5-8, it touches on themes of family dynamics, friendship, and self-discovery with sensitivity. Parents should note that the story includes consequences of serious actions like drunk driving, presented in an age-appropriate way.

Why we rated Saint Anything 8IE

Saint Anything is written at a Level 3-4 reading level with a Lexile measure of 690L across 417 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 4.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Saint Anything works for readers up to grade 5.5.

We rate Saint Anything as 8IE ("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, social complexity, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Drunk Driving.

Thematically, Saint Anything explores brothers and sisters, family, friendship, and coming of age — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.

Good fit for

✓ Children in the Ages 5-8 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about brothers and sisters, family, friendship.

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.