What reading level is Take the Reins?

Take the Reins by Jessica Burkhart is at a Level 3-4 reading level (Lexile 650L). Recommended for Upper Grades readers (Ages 13+).

What age is Take the Reins appropriate for?

Take the Reins is recommended for Ages 13+. HootRating: 8LE (Light — Emotional).

What genre is Take the Reins?

Take the Reins is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does Take the Reins have any content warnings?

Take the Reins has a HootRating of 8LE (Light — 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 Take the Reins?

Take the Reins by Jessica Burkhart is 192 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

Take the Reins

Jessica Burkhart

Take the Reins

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Jessica Burkhart

Reading Level 3-4 8LE Ages 13+ Matched

The text is written at a 3rd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.

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About This Book

The rhythmic clip-clop of hooves echoes across the sunlit arena, dust swirling in the warm breeze. Sasha feels Charm's steady breath beneath her, heart pounding with every jump and turn. But the eyes watching her aren't all friendly—can she prove she belongs where the stakes are as high as the fences?

Themes

Friendship Coming of Age Family Sports Adventure

Quick Assessment

This novel follows Sasha Silver as she navigates the challenges of joining an elite equestrian academy where competition and social pressures run high. Suitable for teens aged 13-18, it explores themes of perseverance, friendship, and self-confidence in a competitive environment. Parents should note the story involves interpersonal conflict but no graphic content.

Why we rated Take the Reins 8LE

Take the Reins is written at a Level 3-4 reading level with a Lexile measure of 650L across 192 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 4.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Take the Reins works for readers up to grade 5.5.

We rate Take the Reins as 8LE ("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, Take the Reins explores friendship, coming of age, family, sports, and adventure — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.

Good fit for

✓ Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, coming of age, family.