What reading level is Survival Colony 9?

Survival Colony 9 by Joshua David Bellin is at a Level 5-6 reading level (Lexile 880L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Survival Colony 9 appropriate for?

Survival Colony 9 is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 10ME (Moderate — Emotional).

What genre is Survival Colony 9?

Survival Colony 9 is fiction — Young Adult Fiction.

Does Survival Colony 9 have any content warnings?

Survival Colony 9 has a HootRating of 10ME (Moderate — Emotional). No specific content flags noted. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Survival Colony 9?

Survival Colony 9 by Joshua David Bellin is 325 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

Survival Colony 9

Joshua David Bellin

Survival Colony 9

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Joshua David Bellin

Reading Level 5-6 10ME Ages 9-12 Matched

The text is written at a 5th 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

Querry Genn has a secret no one else does—he holds the key to saving his entire colony from terrifying monsters that can disguise themselves as humans. But he can’t even remember his own past, and every moment could be his last. What if the secret inside him is the only hope for Survival Colony 9?

Themes

Science & Nature Adventure Friendship Family Fantasy World-Building

Quick Assessment

Set in a post-war future, this middle-grade science fiction novel follows Querry Genn, a teenager struggling with memory loss while living in a space colony threatened by mysterious shapeshifting creatures called the Skaldi. The story explores themes of identity, trust, and survival in a high-stakes environment, suitable for ages 9-12. Parents should note the presence of mild peril and suspenseful moments, but the book remains appropriate for middle-grade readers.

Why we rated Survival Colony 9 10ME

Survival Colony 9 is written at a Level 5-6 reading level with a Lexile measure of 880L across 325 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 6.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Survival Colony 9 works for readers up to grade 7.5.

We rate Survival Colony 9 as 10ME ("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, physical peril — 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, Survival Colony 9 explores science & nature, adventure, friendship, family, and fantasy world-building — 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, adventure, friendship.

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.