Strange star
Emma Carroll
Strange star
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Emma Carroll
The text is written at a 6th 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
Felix, a brave servant with a past as a slave, isn't just listening to ghost stories—he's living one. When a mysterious girl with a haunting secret appears on a stormy night, everything changes. It’s not just stories that come to life, but truths that could change their world forever.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Set in 1816 Switzerland, this historical fiction follows Felix, a former slave turned servant, as he and others share ghost stories during a stormy night. The arrival of a scarred girl with a dark secret introduces themes of adoption, storytelling, and the complexities of history. Suitable for ages 9-12, the book explores mature themes like slavery and social hierarchy with sensitivity and depth.
Why we rated Strange star 11ME
Strange star is written at a Level 6 reading level across 230 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Strange star works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Strange star as 11ME ("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 — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Loss & Grief, Divorce & Family Change, Fear & Anxiety.
Thematically, Strange star explores historical, storytelling, adoption & foster care, friendship, and family — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers. Each of these themes is concrete enough to seed a real conversation, not just a moral lesson.
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 historical, storytelling, adoption & foster care.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Children currently coping with grief — the themes may hit close to home.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Content Flags
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
6/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780399556050
- Pages
- 230
- Publisher
- Delacorte Books for Young Readers
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction