Strike
Delilah S. Dawson
Strike
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Delilah S. Dawson
The text is written at a 8th 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
What if you had to fake your own death just to escape a dangerous life? Patsy is on the run from a secret group that once controlled her every move. Now, she must decide if trusting a mysterious new group is her only chance to be free—or if it could lead to even bigger danger.
Quick Assessment
Strike follows Patsy, a young girl who escapes her life as an indentured assassin and faces difficult choices while on the run with her boyfriend. The story includes mature themes such as abandonment, animal loss, drug use, and violence, which may require parental guidance for readers aged 9-12. It explores survival and social issues within a science fiction setting.
Why we rated Strike 12IE
Strike is written at a Level 8 reading level across 480 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 9.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Strike works for readers up to grade 10.0.
We rate Strike 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: Animal Death, Abandonment, Drug Use, Violence.
Thematically, Strike explores science & nature, survival, social justice, 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.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about science & nature, survival, social justice.
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.
- ! 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
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
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781481423427
- Pages
- 480
- Publisher
- Simon and Schuster
- Published
- 2016
- Type
- Fiction