What reading level is The book of the maidservant?

The book of the maidservant by Rebecca Barnhouse is at a Level 5-6 reading level (Lexile 800L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is The book of the maidservant appropriate for?

The book of the maidservant is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 10LE (Light — Emotional).

What genre is The book of the maidservant?

The book of the maidservant is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does The book of the maidservant have any content warnings?

The book of the maidservant has a HootRating of 10LE (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 the maidservant?

The book of the maidservant by Rebecca Barnhouse is 232 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

The book of the maidservant

Rebecca Barnhouse

The book of the maidservant

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Rebecca Barnhouse

Reading Level 5-6 10LE Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 5th 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 you could travel back to the year 1413 and journey all the way to Rome with a brave young maidservant? Imagine walking beside her as she follows her deeply faithful mistress on an incredible pilgrimage filled with challenges and discoveries. But will their faith be strong enough to face the unknown ahead?

Themes

HistoricalReligious LifeAdventure Coming of Age

Quick Assessment

Set in the early 15th century, this historical fiction follows a young maidservant accompanying her mistress, Dame Margery Kempe, on a religious pilgrimage to Rome. The story explores themes of faith, travel, and medieval life, making it suitable for readers aged 9 to 12 with an interest in history and character-driven narratives. It includes an author's note that provides context about Margery Kempe, regarded as the author of one of the earliest autobiographies in English.

Why we rated The book of the maidservant 10LE

The book of the maidservant is written at a Level 5-6 reading level with a Lexile measure of 800L across 232 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 6.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The book of the maidservant works for readers up to grade 7.5.

We rate The book of the maidservant as 10LE ("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 the maidservant explores historical, religious life, adventure, 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.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about historical, religious life, adventure.