What reading level is Snakebite?

Snakebite by Jonathan Mary-Todd is at a Level 4-5 reading level. Recommended for Middle Grades Plus readers (Ages 11+).

What age is Snakebite appropriate for?

Snakebite is recommended for Ages 11+. HootRating: 9ME (Moderate — Emotional). Content flags: Physical Danger, Mild Peril, Survival, Fear & Anxiety.

What genre is Snakebite?

Snakebite is fiction — Young Adult Fiction. Part of the After the Dust Settled series.

Does Snakebite have any content warnings?

Snakebite has a HootRating of 9ME (Moderate — Emotional). Content flags include: Physical Danger, Mild Peril, Survival, Fear & Anxiety. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Snakebite?

Snakebite by Jonathan Mary-Todd is 120 pages (approximately 15,507 words).

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

Snakebite

Jonathan Mary-Todd

Snakebite

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Jonathan Mary-Todd

After the Dust Settled

Reading Level 4-5 9ME Ages 11+ Matched Page-Turner

The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for older middle graders (ages 11+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.

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About This Book

After losing their parents, Malik, Beckley, Hector, Martin, and Emma rely on a survival guide to navigate the dangers of the northern plains. When Emma is taken by a mysterious group marked by the same snakebite that injured Hector, the friends must band together, sharpen their skills, and track their kidnappers through the wild. Trust and teamwork become their strongest weapons as they race against time to rescue Emma.

Themes

Survival Friendship Adventure Science & Nature

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 4-5 book with moderate content intensity. Content themes include physical danger, mild peril, survival. Written for readers ages 11+.

Why we rated Snakebite 9ME

Snakebite is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 120 pages (approximately 15,507 words). Strong independent readers around grade 5.3 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Snakebite works for readers up to grade 6.3.

Read aloud, Snakebite runs about 1.7 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.

We rate Snakebite 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: Physical Danger, Mild Peril, Survival, Fear & Anxiety.

Thematically, Snakebite explores survival, friendship, adventure, and science & nature — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.

Good fit for

✓ Children in the Ages 11+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
✓ Reluctant readers who need fast-paced, hook-heavy stories to stay engaged.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about survival, friendship, adventure.
✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there are 5 more books in the After the Dust Settled series.