Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated
The healing spell
Kimberley Griffiths Little
The healing spell
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Kimberley Griffiths Little
The text is written at a 5th 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
Eleven-year-old Livie feels she caused her mother’s coma and sets off on a brave journey through mysterious Louisiana swamps to find a magical cure. Along the way, she faces her fears and uncovers secrets about family and forgiveness. This heartfelt adventure explores courage and hope in the face of guilt.
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 5 book with moderate content intensity. Content themes include guilt, secrets, coma. Written for readers ages 9-12.
Why we rated The healing spell 10ME
The healing spell is written at a Level 5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 800L across 370 pages (approximately 62,478 words). Strong independent readers around grade 6.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The healing spell works for readers up to grade 7.0.
Read aloud, The healing spell runs about 7 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.
We rate The healing spell as 10ME ("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 — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Guilt, Secrets, Coma, Fear & Anxiety.
Thematically, The healing spell explores family, adventure, coming of age, mystery, and social justice — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers. Each of these themes is concrete enough to seed a real conversation, not just a moral lesson.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about family, 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.
For Parents
Content Intensity
10ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Content Flags
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
4/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
5/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780545165594
- Pages
- 370
- Publisher
- Scholastic Inc.
- Published
- 2010
- Type
- Fiction
- Word Count
- 62,478
- Lexile
- 800L
- Read-Aloud
- ~6h 57m
- Text Density
- Standard