The hippie house
Katherine Holubitsky
The hippie house
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Katherine Holubitsky
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes.
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About This Book
Set against the backdrop of the 1970s, fourteen-year-old Emma's world is shattered when a nearby girl is tragically killed, forcing her to confront the darker side of her once carefree community. As secrets unravel, Emma faces a mystery that challenges her sense of safety and innocence.
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 6 book with intense content intensity. Content themes include murder, fear & anxiety, loss & grief. Written for readers ages 13+.
Why we rated The hippie house 11IE
The hippie house is written at a Level 6 reading level across 233 pages (approximately 74,358 words). Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The hippie house works for readers up to grade 8.0.
Read aloud, The hippie house runs about 8.3 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.
We rate The hippie house as 11IE ("Intense — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Intense" range — intense conflict including peril, frightening scenes, or emotionally heavy themes. 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: Murder, Fear & Anxiety, Loss & Grief.
Thematically, The hippie house explores mystery, coming of age, family, 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 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about mystery, coming of age, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
- ! Children younger than 13+ — the content intensity is above what most younger kids can process comfortably.
- ! Children currently coping with grief — the themes may hit close to home.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11IE — Intense — EmotionalHeavy themes explored in depth. War, death, abuse addressed directly.
Content Flags
Was our "Intense" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A 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
- 1551433168
- Pages
- 233
- Publisher
- Orca Book Publishers
- Published
- 2004
- Type
- Fiction
- Word Count
- 74,358
- Read-Aloud
- ~8h 16m
- Text Density
- Dense