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 has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
Kaz Brekker stands on a rooftop in Ketterdam, gripping a crow-shaped cane as shadows swirl around him. His crew is sneaking through the dark alleys, hearts pounding, as they prepare to pull off the most dangerous heist the city has ever seen. But when a sudden noise echoes, everything risks falling apart—can they survive the night?
Quick Assessment
Six of Crows follows Kaz Brekker and his crew of outcasts as they attempt a high-stakes heist in the bustling city of Ketterdam. Filled with fantasy elements, action, and complex characters, this middle-grade novel explores themes of friendship, survival, and morality. Suitable for readers aged 9 to 12, it contains some intense moments of peril and conflict but is appropriate for mature middle-grade readers.
Why we rated Six of Crows 12ME
Six of Crows is written at a Level 8 reading level across 479 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 12ME ("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, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mild Peril, Fantasy Violence.
Thematically, Six of Crows explores adventure, fantasy world-building, friendship, coming of age, and mystery — 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about adventure, fantasy world-building, friendship.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Content Flags
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9798337404356
- Pages
- 479
- Publisher
- Macmillan
- Published
- 2015-09-29
- Type
- Fiction