What reading level is Save the enemy?

Save the enemy by Arin Greenwood is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 700L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Save the enemy appropriate for?

Save the enemy is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9ME (Moderate — Emotional). Content flags: Kidnapping, Mild Peril.

What genre is Save the enemy?

Save the enemy is fiction — Enemies.

Does Save the enemy have any content warnings?

Save the enemy has a HootRating of 9ME (Moderate — Emotional). Content flags include: Kidnapping, Mild Peril. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Save the enemy?

Save the enemy by Arin Greenwood is 245 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

Save the enemy

Arin Greenwood

Save the enemy

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Arin Greenwood

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

Zoey races through shadowy halls, clutching her brother’s hand as danger closes in. Her dad has vanished, taken by strangers, and now Zoey must use everything she’s learned to keep Ben safe. But when a mysterious boy named Pete appears, can she trust him — or is he part of the threat?

Themes

KidnappingFamiliesSurvivalEnemiesJuvenile fiction

Quick Assessment

Save the Enemy follows Zoey, a young girl thrust into a dangerous situation when her father is kidnapped, leaving her responsible for her autistic younger brother. Set in a private school with mysterious classmates, the story explores themes of family, survival, and trust. Suitable for middle-grade readers, the book contains mild peril and emotional challenges but is appropriate for ages 9 to 12.

Why we rated Save the enemy 9ME

Save the enemy is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 700L across 245 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Save the enemy works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate Save the enemy 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: Kidnapping, Mild Peril.

Thematically, Save the enemy explores kidnapping, families, survival, enemies, 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 kidnapping, families, survival.

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.