What reading level is The long way home?

The long way home by Ann M. Martin is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 780L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is The long way home appropriate for?

The long way home is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9ME (Moderate — Emotional).

What genre is The long way home?

The long way home is fiction — Families.

Does The long way home have any content warnings?

The long way home has a HootRating of 9ME (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 long way home?

The long way home by Ann M. Martin is 214 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

The long way home

Ann M. Martin

The long way home

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

The Second Generation

by Ann M. Martin

Reading Level 4-5 9ME Ages 9-12 Matched

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

Dana’s life in 1950s New York City is tougher than most kids her age — she’s a twin who dreams of having her own room and suddenly has to face a world without her dad. Losing someone so important changes everything, and Dana’s journey shows how strong family bonds really are. It’s a story about finding your own way when the path feels impossible.

Themes

Family Coming of AgeSibling RelationshipsGriefHistorical

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel explores the challenges of family change and loss through Dana, a young girl growing up in 1950s New York City. It sensitively addresses themes of grief, sibling relationships, and adapting to new circumstances, making it suitable for readers aged 9-12. Parents should note the emotional content surrounding the death of a parent and family adjustments.

Why we rated The long way home 9ME

The long way home is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 780L across 214 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The long way home works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate The long way home 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 — 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 long way home explores family, coming of age, sibling relationships, grief, and historical — 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 9-12 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 family, coming of age, sibling relationships.

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.