Sending
Robert Hawks
Sending
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Robert Hawks
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
Tanya runs through the school halls, heart pounding as whispers and sneers follow her every step. Her classmates won’t stop picking on her, but then Grandma shows her a secret way to get even. Just when Tanya thinks she’s in control, something terrifying happens — and it’s only the beginning.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade horror story follows Tanya, a young girl facing bullying while adjusting to life with her immigrant grandmother. The book explores themes of friendship, revenge, and unexpected consequences, with supernatural elements that may be intense for sensitive readers. Recommended for ages 9-12, it offers a mix of suspense and emotional depth appropriate for this age group.
Why we rated Sending 9ME
Sending is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 146 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Sending works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Sending 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.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.
Thematically, Sending explores horror & ghost stories, friendship, juvenile fiction, and social situations — 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 horror & ghost stories, friendship, juvenile fiction.
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.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A 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
- 9780380781584
- Pages
- 146
- Publisher
- HarperCollins
- Published
- August 1, 1996
- Type
- Fiction