The great hibernation
Dairman, Tara
The great hibernation
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Dairman, Tara
Illustrated by Green, Rebecca, 1986- illustrator
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
What if everyone in your town suddenly fell asleep, leaving only kids awake? In St. Polonius, after the Founders' Day Festival, all the grown-ups mysteriously doze off. Can Jean uncover the secret behind this strange hibernation before it's too late?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Set in a small northern town, this middle-grade mystery follows Jean and other children who must manage their community after the adults fall into a deep sleep during a traditional festival. The story explores themes of responsibility, problem-solving, and community, suitable for readers ages 9 to 12. Some mild suspense and references to poisons are present but handled appropriately for this age group.
Why we rated The great hibernation 11LE
The great hibernation is written at a Level 6 reading level across 260 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The great hibernation works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate The great hibernation as 11LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, The great hibernation explores mystery, adventure, community, and coming of age — 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 mystery, adventure, community.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A 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
- 9781524717858
- Pages
- 260
- Publisher
- Wendy Lamb Books
- Published
- 2017
- Type
- Fiction