What reading level is The Forgetting?

The Forgetting by Sharon Cameron is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 740L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is The Forgetting appropriate for?

The Forgetting is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9ME (Moderate — Emotional). Content flags: Mild Peril, Fantasy Violence, Fear & Anxiety.

What genre is The Forgetting?

The Forgetting is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does The Forgetting have any content warnings?

The Forgetting has a HootRating of 9ME (Moderate — Emotional). Content flags include: Mild Peril, Fantasy Violence, Fear & Anxiety. 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 Forgetting?

The Forgetting by Sharon Cameron is 403 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

The Forgetting

Sharon Cameron

The Forgetting

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Sharon Cameron

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.

Buy on Amazon Listen on Audible Find on Bookshop.org

We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.

About This Book

The sharp scent of smoke fills the air as Canaan erupts into chaos every twelve years, shattering its peaceful walls with bursts of wild, bloody violence. But then, like magic, everyone forgets everything—their names, their families, their lives—except for Nadia. She’s the only one who remembers, and her heart races with the desperate hope of stopping the Forgetting forever.

Themes

Science & Nature Mystery Adventure Coming of AgeConspiracy

Quick Assessment

Set in a walled city on an idyllic world, this middle-grade science fiction novel explores themes of memory loss and mystery as the protagonist, Nadia, seeks to uncover the truth behind a recurring, violent event known as the Forgetting. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story contains some intense scenes of violence and emotional tension tied to the town’s cyclical chaos. Parents should be aware of the book’s exploration of complex conspiracies and eerie memory loss.

Why we rated The Forgetting 9ME

The Forgetting is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 740L across 403 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The Forgetting works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate The Forgetting 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 — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mild Peril, Fantasy Violence, Fear & Anxiety.

Thematically, The Forgetting explores science & nature, mystery, adventure, coming of age, and conspiracy — 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.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about science & nature, mystery, adventure.

Maybe not for

! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.