The oath
Frank E. Peretti
The oath
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Frank E. Peretti
The text is written at a 5th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is very intense with mature or graphic material.
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About This Book
In the shadowed mountains of the Pacific Northwest, a secluded town harbors a dark secret that unleashes terrifying events. As people disappear mysteriously and fear spreads, the community's ancient pact conceals a chilling evil that corrupts hearts and threatens all who live there. Unraveling the truth reveals a menace more horrifying than anyone could have imagined.
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 5-6 book with very intense content intensity. Note: content intensity (Very Intense) exceeds what the reading level might suggest. Content themes include drug use, torture, broken bone. Written for readers ages 13+.
Why we rated The oath 10VP
The oath is written at a Level 5-6 reading level across 549 pages (approximately 162,829 words). Strong independent readers around grade 6.1 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The oath works for readers up to grade 7.1.
Read aloud, The oath runs about 18.1 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.
We rate The oath as 10VP ("Vivid — Physical") because the content sits in the "Very Intense" range — very intense or graphic content — peril, violence, trauma, or mature themes treated head-on. The strongest signals come from physical peril, social complexity — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Drug Use, Torture, Broken Bone, Graphic Violence, Kidnapping, Spitting, Fat Jokes, Hate Speech, Blood/Gore, Gun Violence.
Thematically, The oath explores fantasy world-building, adventure, mystery, and social justice — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about fantasy world-building, adventure, mystery.
Maybe not for
- ! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
- ! Children younger than 13+ — the content intensity is above what most younger kids can process comfortably.
- ! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.
For Parents
Content Intensity
10VP — Vivid — PhysicalGraphic or sustained depictions of trauma, violence, or mature content.
Content Flags
Was our "Very Intense" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0849911788
- Pages
- 549
- Published
- 1995
- Type
- Fiction
- Word Count
- 162,829
- Read-Aloud
- ~18h 6m
- Text Density
- Dense