The backward season
Lauren Myracle
The backward season
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
a Wishing Day novel
by Lauren Myracle
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
Here's a secret: Ava Blok is about to get her very own Wishing Day, but she’s scared to make a wish after what happened to her sisters. What if fixing the future means changing the past? And what if that comes with a price no one expects? But that’s only the beginning.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fantasy novel follows Ava Blok as she navigates the emotional challenges of wishing and family dynamics after her sisters’ wishes lead to unexpected consequences. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story addresses themes of family, responsibility, and the impact of choices in a magical context. Parents should note that the book explores complex emotional themes and the idea of changing the past with moderate intensity.
Why we rated The backward season 11ME
The backward season is written at a Level 6 reading level across 293 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The backward season works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate The backward season 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, thematic difficulty — 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, The backward season explores sisters, wishes, magic, family, and coming of age — 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.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about sisters, wishes, magic.
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.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
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
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780062342126
- Pages
- 293
- Publisher
- HarperCollins
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction