The Leavetaking
Anna Gilbert
The Leavetaking
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Anna Gilbert
The text is written at a 4th 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 a mysterious stranger arrived at your peaceful home, bringing shadows that chill the air? Isobel’s life at Emberside Grange changes overnight when Simeon Graw, a dark artist with secrets, appears. When her cousin Lydia disappears, Isobel must follow a dangerous path filled with hidden dangers and eerie mysteries.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction follows Isobel Penrose as she confronts the unsettling arrival of a mysterious artist and the disappearance of her cousin at their countryside home. The story mixes suspense and supernatural elements suitable for ages 9-12, with some themes of fear and mystery that may prompt discussion. Parents should note the presence of dark, suspenseful moments but no graphic content.
Why we rated The Leavetaking 9ME
The Leavetaking 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 Leavetaking works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate The Leavetaking as 9ME ("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 Leavetaking explores mystery, adventure, family, coming of age, and supernatural — 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.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about mystery, adventure, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9ME — 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
3/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0312477309
- Pages
- 192
- Publisher
- St. Martin's Press
- Published
- 1979
- Type
- Fiction