What reading level is The many lives of John Stone?

The many lives of John Stone by Linda Buckley-Archer is at a Level 5-6 reading level (Lexile 890L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is The many lives of John Stone appropriate for?

The many lives of John Stone is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 10MT (Moderate — Thematic).

What genre is The many lives of John Stone?

The many lives of John Stone is fiction — Fiction.

Does The many lives of John Stone have any content warnings?

The many lives of John Stone has a HootRating of 10MT (Moderate — Thematic). 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 many lives of John Stone?

The many lives of John Stone by Linda Buckley-Archer is 529 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

The many lives of John Stone

Linda Buckley-Archer

The many lives of John Stone

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Linda Buckley-Archer

Reading Level 5-6 10MT Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 5th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.

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About This Book

Spark flips through dusty journals, each page whispering secrets from centuries past. The words are all written by the same hand, but why? Suddenly, a shadow moves in the hallway—someone else knows the truth, but who?

Themes

SupernaturalIdentityParanormal fictionLongevity

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel follows seventeen-year-old Spark as she uncovers the mysterious history of a secluded English house through centuries-old journals. Blending supernatural and philosophical themes, it explores identity and longevity in a way suited for readers aged 9 to 12. While it contains paranormal elements, the content is appropriate for its target age group with no intense violence or mature themes.

Why we rated The many lives of John Stone 10MT

The many lives of John Stone is written at a Level 5-6 reading level with a Lexile measure of 890L across 529 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 6.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The many lives of John Stone works for readers up to grade 7.5.

We rate The many lives of John Stone as 10MT ("Moderate — Thematic") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. The strongest signals come from 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 mild intensity score.

Thematically, The many lives of John Stone explores supernatural, identity, paranormal fiction, and longevity — 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 supernatural, identity, paranormal fiction.