What reading level is The Dark Is Rising Sequence?

The Dark Is Rising Sequence by Susan Cooper is at a Level 8 reading level. Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is The Dark Is Rising Sequence appropriate for?

The Dark Is Rising Sequence is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 12ME (Moderate — Emotional).

What genre is The Dark Is Rising Sequence?

The Dark Is Rising Sequence is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does The Dark Is Rising Sequence have any content warnings?

The Dark Is Rising Sequence has a HootRating of 12ME (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 Dark Is Rising Sequence?

The Dark Is Rising Sequence by Susan Cooper is 1148 pages.

The Dark Is Rising Sequence

Susan Cooper

The Dark Is Rising Sequence

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

Silver on the Tree; The Grey King; Greenwitch; The Dark Is Rising; and Over Sea, Under Stone

by Susan Cooper

Reading Level 8 12ME Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 8th 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

This isn't just any adventure series—it's a battle between ancient forces of light and darkness where ordinary kids discover they hold extraordinary powers. Each book pulls you deeper into a world where magic and danger lurk in every shadow, and the fate of the world hangs by a thread. Why does this ancient struggle still matter today? Because it’s about courage, destiny, and the choice between hope and despair.

Themes

Fantasy World-Building Adventure Coming of Age FriendshipImagination & Play

Quick Assessment

Susan Cooper's The Dark Is Rising Sequence is a celebrated fantasy series that follows a group of children as they uncover magical legacies and confront dark forces threatening their world. Suitable for ages 9-12, the books blend myth, adventure, and coming-of-age themes, encouraging imagination and resilience. Parents should note the presence of mild peril and some complex vocabulary appropriate for middle-grade readers.