What reading level is The pact?

The pact by Margaret Willey is at a Level 5-6 reading level (Lexile 850L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is The pact appropriate for?

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

What genre is The pact?

The pact is fiction — Young Adult Fiction.

Does The pact have any content warnings?

The pact 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 pact?

The pact by Margaret Willey is 296 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

The pact

Margaret Willey

The pact

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Margaret Willey

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.

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About This Book

Nobody expects the outcasts to take charge, but Katie, Nate, and Renata are about to prove that even the least popular kids can change everything. They're so fed up with Chase Dobson's bullying that they've made a shocking plan to stop him—for good. But when secrets start to slip, will their bold move tear them apart or bring them closer than ever?

Themes

FriendshipBullyingSecretsComing of Age

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel explores themes of bullying, friendship, and the consequences of taking matters into one's own hands. Suitable for ages 9-12, it deals with the serious topic of kidnaping in the context of stopping a bully, highlighting the complexities of secrets and social dynamics at school. Parents should be aware that the book addresses difficult emotional themes but does so thoughtfully within a fictional, age-appropriate framework.

Why we rated The pact 10ME

The pact is written at a Level 5-6 reading level with a Lexile measure of 850L across 296 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 6.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The pact works for readers up to grade 7.5.

We rate The pact 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, social complexity — 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 pact explores friendship, bullying, secrets, and coming of age — 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 friendship, bullying, secrets.

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.