The Naming

Name: The Naming
Author: Alison Croggon
ISBN: 9780763631628

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Alison Croggon

Reading Level 5-6 ME · Moderate · Emotional Ages 9-12 Matched

The text is written at a 5th 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. Its HootRating code, ME, means moderate content, mostly emotional.

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About This Book

There’s a secret power hidden deep inside Maerad, a power she barely understands. Taken from slavery, she’s only just beginning to unlock her magic to fight a dark force creeping across the land. But that’s only the beginning.

Themes

MagicFantasy World-Building Adventure Coming of AgeSupernatural

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade fantasy follows sixteen-year-old Maerad, an orphan discovering her magical abilities as a Bard while escaping slavery. The story explores themes of courage, identity, and the battle between good and evil, suited for readers aged 9-12. Parents should note mild peril and fantasy violence as Maerad confronts dark forces threatening her world.

Why we rated The Naming ME (Moderate)

The Naming is written at a Level 5-6 reading level across 492 pages. Reading-wise, most kids in grade 7 and up can manage The Naming on their own; younger readers can enjoy it with a parent or teacher reading along.

We rate The Naming as ME (Moderate, mostly 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, physical peril — 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 Naming explores magic, fantasy world-building, adventure, 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.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about magic, fantasy world-building, adventure.

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

ME · Moderate · Emotional

Emotional

Moderate ←

Physical

Moderate

Social

Gentle

Thematic

Mild

Reading the HootRating code: the first letter is the content intensity (C = Gentle · L = Mild · M = Moderate · I = Intense · V = Very Intense); the second, when there is one, is the kind of content that drives it (E = Emotional · P = Physical · S = Social · T = Thematic). Reading level and age range are rated separately. How we rate

Real stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.

Data confidence: high

Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?