What reading level is Smoke?

Smoke by Ellen Hopkins is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 710L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Smoke appropriate for?

Smoke is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9IE (Intense — Emotional). Content flags: Loss & Grief, Emotional problems, Runaways.

Smoke is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does Smoke have any content warnings?

Smoke has a HootRating of 9IE (Intense — Emotional). Content flags include: Loss & Grief, Emotional problems, Runaways. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Smoke?

Smoke by Ellen Hopkins is 543 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

Smoke

Ellen Hopkins

Smoke

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Ellen Hopkins

Reading Level 4-5 9IE Ages 9-12 Heads Up

The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes.

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About This Book

What would you do if everything you loved suddenly disappeared? Pattyn is running away from a world filled with pain and loss, searching for a place to heal. But can she find peace before her past catches up with her?

Themes

FamilyGriefRunawaysSistersEmotional problems

Quick Assessment

Smoke explores the emotional aftermath of loss and trauma through the story of Pattyn, who runs away after the death of her abusive father and the heartbreaking loss of her unborn child and loved one. The book addresses heavy themes such as grief, family struggles, and mental health, making it suitable for mature middle grade readers. Parents should be aware of its intense emotional content related to abuse and loss.

Why we rated Smoke 9IE

Smoke is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 710L across 543 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Smoke works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate Smoke as 9IE ("Intense — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Intense" range — intense conflict including peril, frightening scenes, or emotionally heavy themes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Loss & Grief, Emotional problems, Runaways.

Thematically, Smoke explores family, grief, runaways, sisters, and emotional problems — 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 family, grief, runaways.

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 currently coping with grief — the themes may hit close to home.
! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.