What reading level is The glass arrow?

The glass arrow by Kristen Simmons is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 720L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is The glass arrow appropriate for?

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

What genre is The glass arrow?

The glass arrow is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does The glass arrow have any content warnings?

The glass arrow 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 glass arrow?

The glass arrow by Kristen Simmons is 334 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

The glass arrow

Kristen Simmons

The glass arrow

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Kristen Simmons

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 you lived in a world where girls were treated like objects? Sixteen-year-old Aya was taken from her free mountain home and now faces being sold at an auction. Can she break free and find her way back to the wild before it’s too late?

Themes

Science & Nature Adventure Coming of Age Family Survival

Quick Assessment

Set in a dystopian future where females are treated as property, this middle-grade science fiction novel follows Aya, a courageous sixteen-year-old girl who is captured and sold but determined to escape back to her family in the mountains. The story explores themes of freedom, resilience, and survival, suitable for readers aged 9 to 12. Parents should note the presence of peril and tense situations but no graphic content.

Why we rated The glass arrow 9ME

The glass arrow is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 720L across 334 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The glass arrow works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate The glass arrow 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.

No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.

Thematically, The glass arrow explores science & nature, adventure, coming of age, family, and survival — 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.
✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about science & nature, adventure, coming of age.

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.