Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated
Six of Crows
Leigh Bardugo
Six of Crows
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Leigh Bardugo
The text is written at a 8th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is very intense with mature or graphic material.
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About This Book
Here’s a secret: Kaz Brekker is the smartest and sneakiest kid in Ketterdam, a city where danger lurks around every corner. He’s planning the biggest heist anyone has ever heard of—but the crew he gathers is full of mysterious and powerful kids, each with their own secrets. And this is just the beginning.
About & Banning Context
In 'Six of Crows', readers are introduced to Kaz Brekker and his diverse team, including Jesper, Inej, Wylan, and the conflicted duo of Nina and Matthias. Set in the vibrant city of Ketterdam, known for its trade and moral ambiguity, Kaz, a skilled criminal, is presented with a high-stakes opportunity to execute a heist that promises immense wealth. However, he requires the unique talents of his crew to succeed. Each member brings their own troubled pasts and motivations, including a convict seeking vengeance, a sharpshooter with a gambling addiction, a runaway from privilege, a stealthy spy, and a magical healer struggling to survive. Together, they must navigate their differences and the dangers of their mission, which could either save their world or lead to their downfall.
- ● Amazon.com Best Books of the Year (2015) (2015)
- ● Los Angeles Times Best Books of the Year (2015) (2015)
- ● YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults (Commended, 2016) (2016)
- ● Georgia Peach Award Winner
- ● Sakura Medal in the High School English category
Themes
Quick Assessment
Set in a richly imagined fantasy world, this novel follows Kaz Brekker and a group of young outcasts as they attempt a high-stakes heist. Suitable for older middle-grade readers, it contains mature themes including child abuse, abandonment, drug use, and references to sexual violence, which parents should consider before sharing. The story explores complex characters and dark topics within a thrilling adventure framework.
Why we rated Six of Crows 12VE
Six of Crows is written at a Level 8 reading level across 512 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 9.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Six of Crows works for readers up to grade 10.0.
We rate Six of Crows as 12VE ("Vivid — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Very Intense" range — very intense or graphic content — peril, violence, trauma, or mature themes treated head-on. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, physical peril, social complexity, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Child Abuse, Abandonment, Drug Use, Addiction, Sexual Violence Mention.
Thematically, Six of Crows explores fantasy world-building, adventure, friendship, coming of age, and crime and outlaws — 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 fantasy world-building, adventure, friendship.
Maybe not for
- ! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
- ! Children younger than 9-12 — the content intensity is above what most younger kids can process comfortably.
- ! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12VE — Vivid — EmotionalGraphic or sustained depictions of trauma, violence, or mature content.
Content Flags
Was our "Very Intense" 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
- 9781536439427
- Pages
- 512
- Publisher
- Holt & Company, Henry
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction