What reading level is The secret keepers?

The secret keepers by Trenton Lee Stewart is at a Level 5-6 reading level (Lexile 820L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is The secret keepers appropriate for?

The secret keepers is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 10LE (Light — Emotional).

What genre is The secret keepers?

The secret keepers is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does The secret keepers have any content warnings?

The secret keepers has a HootRating of 10LE (Light — 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 secret keepers?

The secret keepers by Trenton Lee Stewart is 501 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

The secret keepers

Trenton Lee Stewart

The secret keepers

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Trenton Lee Stewart

Illustrated by Sudyka, Diana, illustrator

Reading Level 5-6 10LE Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 5th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.

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About This Book

Reuben clutches the antique watch, its hands ticking louder than his pounding heart. Suddenly, the world around him begins to vanish—he’s invisible! But the danger is close behind, and only quick thinking can keep him safe. Who is The Smoke, and why is Reuben the key to stopping him?

Themes

MagicAdventureSecretsFriendship Mystery

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel blends mystery, magic, and adventure as Reuben discovers a watch that grants invisibility, leading him into a thrilling quest full of puzzles and peril. Suitable for readers aged 9-12, it explores themes of honesty, bravery, and the consequences of secrets, without intense violence or mature content. The story encourages critical thinking and ethical reflection in an engaging, age-appropriate way.

Why we rated The secret keepers 10LE

The secret keepers is written at a Level 5-6 reading level with a Lexile measure of 820L across 501 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 6.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The secret keepers works for readers up to grade 7.5.

We rate The secret keepers as 10LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.

No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.

Thematically, The secret keepers explores magic, adventure, secrets, friendship, and mystery — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.