The Goblin Wood
Hilari Bell
The Goblin Wood
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Hilari Bell
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
Here's a secret: magic used to be part of everyday life, but now it's forbidden — and deadly. Makenna's mother was taken because she was a hedgewitch, and now Makenna is on the run, joining forces with goblins fighting to protect their homes. But that’s only the beginning of a daring plan to save the forest and face a powerful sorceress.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fantasy follows Makenna, a young hedgewitch whose mother is executed under a harsh magical law. As Makenna allies with goblins and a brave knight, they confront themes of survival, justice, and courage in a world where magic is outlawed. Suitable for readers aged 9-12, the story includes magical conflict and moderate peril but no graphic content.
Why we rated The Goblin Wood 11ME
The Goblin Wood is written at a Level 6 reading level across 224 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The Goblin Wood works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate The Goblin Wood 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, 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 Goblin Wood explores magic, witches, knights and knighthood, fairies, and friendship — 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, witches, knights and knighthood.
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
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780061890963
- Pages
- 224
- Publisher
- HarperCollins Publishers
- Published
- 2014-06-25
- Type
- Fiction