The queen's rising
Rebecca Ross
The queen's rising
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Rebecca Ross
The text is written at a 8th 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
What if you discovered a secret talent just as your biggest dream slips away? Imagine being bound to a mysterious lord with a dangerous plan to change the kingdom forever. Now, with battles looming and loyalties tested, what will you choose when passion and family pull you in different directions?
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fantasy novel follows Brienna, a young girl who struggles to find her place in a world where talents define status. Set against a richly imagined Renaissance-inspired kingdom, the story explores themes of family secrets, loyalty, and self-discovery. Suitable for ages 9-12, it contains fantasy violence and complex political intrigue but is appropriate for readers ready for an engaging coming-of-age adventure.
Why we rated The queen's rising 12ME
The queen's rising is written at a Level 8 reading level across 439 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 9.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The queen's rising works for readers up to grade 10.0.
We rate The queen's rising as 12ME ("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, 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 moderate intensity score.
Thematically, The queen's rising explores family, fantasy world-building, coming of age, adventure, and mystery — 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.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about family, fantasy world-building, coming of age.
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
12ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780062471345
- Pages
- 439
- Publisher
- HarperTeen
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction