The hide.
Barry Unsworth
The hide.
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Barry Unsworth
The text is written at a 4th 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
There’s a hidden world beneath Audrey’s estate where shadows whisper secrets and every tunnel hides a mystery. Simon guards this underground labyrinth fiercely, but when Josh stumbles too close, everything Simon’s built is at risk. And that’s only the beginning.
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction delves into a suspenseful story about a boy named Simon who is deeply involved in a secret underground network beneath his sister's estate. The narrative explores themes of privacy, fear, and the consequences of obsession. Suitable for readers aged 9-12, it contains mild tension but no graphic content.
Why we rated The hide. 9LE
The hide. is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 192 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The hide. works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate The hide. as 9LE ("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 hide. explores mystery, family, and adventure — 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, family, adventure.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LE — 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
- 0575004509
- Pages
- 192
- Publisher
- Gollancz
- Published
- 1970
- Type
- Fiction