The clearing
Heather Davis
The clearing
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Heather Davis
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
The soft rustle of leaves and the sweet scent of pine fill the air as Amy steps into a quiet clearing deep in the woods. Something feels different here—like time itself is still, holding its breath. And then she meets Henry, a boy who seems frozen in a summer long ago, stirring feelings Amy didn't expect.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows Amy, a sixteen-year-old girl healing from an abusive relationship, as she moves to the Washington countryside to live with her great-aunt. There, she encounters a mysterious clearing where she meets Henry, a boy trapped in 1944, blending themes of history, healing, and friendship. Suitable for ages 9-12, the book sensitively addresses emotional recovery and social issues without graphic content.
Why we rated The clearing 11ME
The clearing is written at a Level 6 reading level across 215 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The clearing works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate The clearing 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 — 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 clearing explores coming of age, family, friendship, love & romance, and social issues — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers. Each of these themes is concrete enough to seed a real conversation, not just a moral lesson.
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 coming of age, family, friendship.
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
5/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780547263670
- Pages
- 215
- Publisher
- Graphia
- Published
- 2010
- Type
- Fiction