The assassin game
Kirsty McKay
The assassin game
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Kirsty McKay
The text is written at a 7th 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
What if your school hid a secret society where playing a game meant outsmarting a hidden assassin? At Cate's boarding school, the game of Killer is more than just fun—it's a test of wits and courage in the dead of night. But when the stakes suddenly feel too real, can Cate uncover the truth before she becomes the next target?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade thriller follows Cate, a student at a remote boarding school where a secret society plays a high-stakes game called Killer involving pranks and stealth. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story explores themes of belonging, friendship, and mystery with suspenseful moments that may cause mild fear or anxiety. Parents should note the presence of mild peril related to the game and the boarding school setting, but the content remains appropriate for middle-grade readers.
Why we rated The assassin game 12LE
The assassin game is written at a Level 7 reading level across 325 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The assassin game works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate The assassin game as 12LE ("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, The assassin game explores mystery, friendship, adventure, schools, and secret societies — 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, friendship, adventure.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12LE — 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
- 9781492632757
- Pages
- 325
- Publisher
- Sourcebooks, Incorporated
- Published
- 2016
- Type
- Fiction