So Witches We Became
Jill Baguchinsky
So Witches We Became
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Jill Baguchinsky
The text is written at a 7th 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
Nell and her friends are stranded on a private island where a thick, swirling mist hides a terrifying secret. As the mist creeps closer, a mysterious beast lurks beneath the waters, ready to strike. When dark secrets start to unravel, will they survive the night or be swallowed by the curse?
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade horror novel follows high school senior Nell and her friends as they confront a supernatural curse on a private Florida island. The story explores mature themes such as trauma from assault, complex friendships, and emotional healing, making it suitable for older middle-grade readers (ages 9-12) who can handle intense and sometimes scary content. Parents should be aware of the book's handling of sensitive topics and its depiction of fear and suspense.
Why we rated So Witches We Became 12IE
So Witches We Became is written at a Level 7 reading level across 361 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, So Witches We Became works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate So Witches We Became as 12IE ("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, physical peril, social complexity, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Trauma, Supernatural Violence, Emotional Intensity.
Thematically, So Witches We Became explores female friendship, survival, trauma recovery, queer representation, and horror — 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 female friendship, survival, trauma recovery.
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
12IE — Intense — EmotionalHeavy themes explored in depth. War, death, abuse addressed directly.
Content Flags
Was our "Intense" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780316568807
- Pages
- 361
- Publisher
- Little Brown & Company
- Published
- 2024
- Type
- Fiction