What reading level is The cracks in the kingdom?

The cracks in the kingdom by Jaclyn Moriarty is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 750L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is The cracks in the kingdom appropriate for?

The cracks in the kingdom is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9ME (Moderate — Emotional).

What genre is The cracks in the kingdom?

The cracks in the kingdom is fiction — Australian fiction.

Does The cracks in the kingdom have any content warnings?

The cracks in the kingdom 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 cracks in the kingdom?

The cracks in the kingdom by Jaclyn Moriarty is 468 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

The cracks in the kingdom

Jaclyn Moriarty

The cracks in the kingdom

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Jaclyn Moriarty

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

What if colors held the power to save a kingdom? Imagine a princess who teams up with friends who each have magical gifts to find her missing father and other royals. But unlocking the secret to traveling between worlds might be more dangerous than anyone expected.

Themes

MagicFriendship AdventureMissing personsFantasy World-Building

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade fantasy follows Princess Ko and a group of teens with unique abilities as they try to rescue missing royals in their kingdom. The story explores themes of magic, friendship, and courage, suitable for ages 9-12. Parents should note the presence of fantasy peril and complex emotional themes related to loss.

Why we rated The cracks in the kingdom 9ME

The cracks in the kingdom is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 750L across 468 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The cracks in the kingdom works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate The cracks in the kingdom 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 — 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 cracks in the kingdom explores magic, friendship, adventure, missing persons, 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 magic, friendship, adventure.

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.