What reading level is The Naming?

The Naming by Alison Croggon is at a Level 5-6 reading level (Lexile 870L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is The Naming appropriate for?

The Naming is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 10ME (Moderate — Emotional).

What genre is The Naming?

The Naming is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does The Naming have any content warnings?

The Naming has a HootRating of 10ME (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 Naming?

The Naming by Alison Croggon is 492 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

The Naming

Alison Croggon

The Naming

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Alison Croggon

Reading Level 5-6 10ME 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.

Buy on Amazon Listen on Audible

We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.

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 10ME

The Naming is written at a Level 5-6 reading level with a Lexile measure of 870L across 492 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 6.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The Naming works for readers up to grade 7.5.

We rate The Naming as 10ME ("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, 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.
✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
✓ 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.
! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.