The Good Neighbors
Holly Black
The Good Neighbors
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Holly Black
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
Here’s a secret: Rue Silver’s mom vanished, but it’s not what it seems. Rue’s dad is blamed, but the truth is tangled in magic and ancient promises. Now Rue must enter the mysterious faerie world to save her mom — but that’s only the beginning.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This graphic novel by Holly Black follows Rue Silver, a young faerie whose mother has disappeared under mysterious circumstances while her father faces suspicion. Blending supernatural elements with family drama, the story explores themes of magic, loyalty, and courage. Suitable for readers aged 9-12, it contains fantasy violence and some dark themes related to disappearance and suspicion.
Why we rated The Good Neighbors 9ME
The Good Neighbors is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 117 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The Good Neighbors works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate The Good Neighbors 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 Good Neighbors explores fantasy world-building, magic, family, adventure, and mystery — 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 fantasy world-building, magic, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9ME — 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
3/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780439855624
- Pages
- 117
- Publisher
- Graphix
- Published
- 2008
- Type
- Fiction