What reading level is The call?

The call by Peadar Ó Guilin is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 780L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is The call appropriate for?

The call is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9ME (Moderate — Emotional).

Does The call have any content warnings?

The call has a HootRating of 9ME (Moderate — 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 call?

The call by Peadar Ó Guilin is 307 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

The call

Peadar Ó Guilin

The call

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Peadar Ó Guilin

Reading Level 4-5 9ME Ages 9-12 Matched

The text is written at a 4th 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

You wake up in a strange, scary place with only three minutes to escape. Beautiful but terrifying fairies called the Sidhe are closing in fast. Nessa is next — can she survive the Call, or is time already up?

Themes

People with DisabilitiesCeltic MythologyGood and EvilFairiesFantasy World-Building

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade fantasy novel blends elements of horror and Celtic folklore, following Nessa as she faces a dangerous challenge known as the Call. It explores themes of bravery, disability, and good versus evil, appropriate for readers aged 9-12 who enjoy suspenseful and myth-inspired stories. Parents should note some scary scenes and tense moments, but overall the story encourages resilience and courage.

Why we rated The call 9ME

The call is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 780L across 307 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The call works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate The call as 9ME ("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, physical peril, 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 call explores people with disabilities, celtic mythology, good and evil, fairies, and fantasy world-building — 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 people with disabilities, celtic mythology, good and evil.

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.