The last star
Richard Yancey
The last star
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Richard Yancey
The text is written at a 8th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is very intense with mature or graphic material.
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About This Book
The sharp scent of smoke fills the air as sirens wail in the distance. Everywhere, the ground trembles underfoot, and the sky is streaked with strange lights that don’t belong. In a world where survival means facing the unknown, the last hope for humanity hangs by a thread.
Quick Assessment
This intense middle-grade science fiction novel concludes the 5th Wave series, following young protagonists as they face alien threats and the harsh realities of war and survival. It contains mature themes including child abuse, death of children and animals, physical injuries, and graphic violence, making it suitable for older middle-grade readers who can handle emotionally heavy content.
Why we rated The last star 12VP
The last star is written at a Level 8 reading level across 451 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 9.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The last star works for readers up to grade 10.0.
We rate The last star as 12VP ("Vivid — Physical") because the content sits in the "Very Intense" range — very intense or graphic content — peril, violence, trauma, or mature themes treated head-on. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, physical peril, social complexity, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Child Abuse, Death of Child, Death of Animal, Physical Mutilation, Broken Bones, Vomiting, Spitting.
Thematically, The last star explores extraterrestrial beings, youth and war, survival, human-alien encounters, 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.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about extraterrestrial beings, youth and war, survival.
Maybe not for
- ! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
- ! Children younger than 9-12 — 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
12VP — Vivid — PhysicalGraphic or sustained depictions of trauma, violence, or mature content.
Content Flags
Was our "Very Intense" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781410488763
- Pages
- 451
- Publisher
- 5th Wave
- Published
- 2016
- Type
- Fiction