Soul of the Deep
Natasha Bowen
Soul of the Deep
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Natasha Bowen
The text is written at a 7th 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
What would you give up to save the people you love? Simi has traded her freedom, family, and even the boy she loves to protect them. But when dark demons start to creep into the human world, can she find a way to stop them—and heal her own broken heart?
Quick Assessment
Soul of the Deep is a middle-grade fantasy novel following Simi, a mermaid who sacrifices everything to protect those she loves. The story explores themes of sacrifice, loyalty, and identity, with some supernatural elements and mild peril suitable for ages 9-12. Parents should note the presence of mythical creatures and a dark force threatening the world, but the story remains appropriate for middle-grade readers.
Why we rated Soul of the Deep 12ME
Soul of the Deep is written at a Level 7 reading level across 304 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Soul of the Deep works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Soul of the Deep 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, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.
Thematically, Soul of the Deep explores fantasy world-building, adventure, coming of age, family, and friendship — 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.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about fantasy world-building, adventure, coming of age.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780593120996
- Pages
- 304
- Publisher
- Random House Books for Young Readers
- Published
- 2022
- Type
- Fiction