What reading level is The King's Arrow?

The King's Arrow by Michael Cadnum is at a Level 7-8 reading level (Lexile 1090L). Recommended for Upper Grades readers (Ages 13+).

What age is The King's Arrow appropriate for?

The King's Arrow is recommended for Ages 13+. HootRating: 12ME (Moderate — Emotional).

What genre is The King's Arrow?

The King's Arrow is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does The King's Arrow have any content warnings?

The King's Arrow has a HootRating of 12ME (Moderate — Emotional). No specific content flags noted. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is The King's Arrow?

The King's Arrow by Michael Cadnum is 224 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

The King's Arrow

Michael Cadnum

The King's Arrow

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Michael Cadnum

Reading Level 7-8 12ME Ages 13+ Balanced Read

The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.

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About This Book

What if a single moment changed everything you thought you knew about your future? On a bright summer day in England's New Forest, Simon Foldre, just eighteen and eager to prove himself, joins a royal hunt that will twist his fate forever. But when he sees something no one else does, the mystery of the king's death pulls him into a world of secrets and danger.

Themes

Historical Coming of Age Mystery

Quick Assessment

Set in 12th-century England, this historical fiction novel follows eighteen-year-old Simon Foldre as he becomes entangled in the mystery surrounding King William II's death during a royal hunt. Suitable for teens aged 13-18, the story explores themes of loyalty, coming of age, and political intrigue with age-appropriate historical context and some suspenseful moments. Parents should note that the book deals with themes of possible murder and court intrigue but handles them in a way suitable for young adults.

Why we rated The King's Arrow 12ME

The King's Arrow is written at a Level 7-8 reading level with a Lexile measure of 1090L across 224 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The King's Arrow works for readers up to grade 9.5.

We rate The King's Arrow 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, thematic difficulty — 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 King's Arrow explores historical, coming of age, and mystery — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.

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 historical, coming of age, mystery.

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.