What reading level is The shattering?

The shattering by Karen Healey is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 790L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is The shattering appropriate for?

The shattering is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9IE (Intense — Emotional). Content flags: Suicide, Murder, Grief.

What genre is The shattering?

The shattering is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does The shattering have any content warnings?

The shattering has a HootRating of 9IE (Intense — Emotional). Content flags include: Suicide, Murder, Grief. 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 shattering?

The shattering by Karen Healey is 314 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

The shattering

Karen Healey

The shattering

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Karen Healey

Reading Level 4-5 9IE Ages 9-12 Heads Up

The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes.

Find on Amazon Listen on Audible

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

About This Book

Here’s a secret: what if the sad story of a brother’s death wasn’t what it seemed? Keri is sure her brother’s suicide hides a darker truth, and with her friends Janna and Sione, she uncovers clues that point to something terrifying. But that’s only the beginning.

Themes

MysterySupernaturalFriendship Family Coming of Age

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade mystery follows 17-year-old Keri as she investigates her brother’s death, which she suspects was not a suicide but murder. The story explores themes of grief, loss, and the supernatural, with some intense emotional moments and suspenseful mystery elements. Suitable for ages 9-12, parents should be aware that the book deals with suicide and murder in a thoughtful but serious way.

Why we rated The shattering 9IE

The shattering is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 790L across 314 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The shattering works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate The shattering as 9IE ("Intense — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Intense" range — intense conflict including peril, frightening scenes, or emotionally heavy themes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Suicide, Murder, Grief.

Thematically, The shattering explores mystery, supernatural, friendship, family, 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 mystery, supernatural, friendship.

Maybe not for

! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
! Children younger than 9-12 — the content intensity is above what most younger kids can process comfortably.
! Children currently coping with grief — the themes may hit close to home.
! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.