Soul survivor
Nancy Holder
Soul survivor
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Nancy Holder
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
There’s a secret lurking in Somerset, a puzzle hidden in shadows. Jenna Blake sees clues others miss, but each murder tells its own chilling story. And that’s only the beginning of what she’ll uncover.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade mystery follows Jenna Blake as she investigates a series of murders in Somerset, each with unique ritualistic elements. The story offers suspense and problem-solving suitable for ages 9-12, with no graphic content but some themes of danger that are handled thoughtfully.
Why we rated Soul survivor 11LE
Soul survivor is written at a Level 6 reading level across 232 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Soul survivor works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Soul survivor as 11LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, Soul survivor explores mystery, school & education, friendship, and adventure — 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 mystery, school & education, friendship.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A 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
- 9780671034948
- Pages
- 232
- Publisher
- Simon Pulse
- Published
- 1999
- Type
- Fiction