The ice witch
Joel N. Ross
The ice witch
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Joel N. Ross
The text is written at a 7th 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
What if you woke up one day and found out you weren’t fully human anymore? Imagine racing through wild lands with your best friends, chased by the dangerous Summer Queen’s soldiers, all while trying to find the mysterious Ice Witch who can save you. But time is running out, and the fate of your whole world hangs in the balance—can you make it before it’s too late?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fantasy novel follows Ji and his friends, who have been transformed into half-beasts after a magical ritual gone wrong. Together with a band of magical creatures, they embark on a dangerous journey to find the Ice Witch and regain their human forms while evading the evil Summer Queen’s forces. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story features themes of friendship, bravery, and loyalty with some mild peril and fantasy violence.
Why we rated The ice witch 12ME
The ice witch is written at a Level 7 reading level across 327 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The ice witch works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate The ice witch as 12ME ("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 ice witch explores fantasy, adventure, friendship, magic, and kings and rulers — 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.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about fantasy, adventure, friendship.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12ME — 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
2/10A 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
- 9780062484628
- Pages
- 327
- Publisher
- HarperCollins
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction