What reading level is The book of secrets?

The book of secrets by Cynthia Voigt is at a Level 6-7 reading level (Lexile 930L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is The book of secrets appropriate for?

The book of secrets is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 11LE (Light — Emotional).

What genre is The book of secrets?

The book of secrets is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does The book of secrets have any content warnings?

The book of secrets has a HootRating of 11LE (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 The book of secrets?

The book of secrets by Cynthia Voigt is 355 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

The book of secrets

Cynthia Voigt

The book of secrets

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Cynthia Voigt

Illustrated by Bruno, Iacopo, illustrator

Reading Level 6-7 11LE Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 6th 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

Mister Max races through the smoky streets, the mayor's worried voice echoing behind him. Fires keep breaking out, and secrets swirl in every corner. Just when he thinks he's close to the truth about his missing parents, a new clue turns everything upside down.

Themes

MysteryProblem SolvingSelf-RelianceFamily Adventure

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade mystery follows Mister Max, a clever and resourceful boy who assists the mayor in investigating a series of suspicious fires while also searching for his missing parents. The story encourages problem-solving and self-reliance, suitable for ages 9-12. It contains mild suspense but no intense or graphic content.

Why we rated The book of secrets 11LE

The book of secrets is written at a Level 6-7 reading level with a Lexile measure of 930L across 355 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The book of secrets works for readers up to grade 8.5.

We rate The book of secrets as 11LE ("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 book of secrets explores mystery, problem solving, self-reliance, family, 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.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about mystery, problem solving, self-reliance.

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.