What reading level is The siege?

The siege by Mark Alpert is at a Level 5-6 reading level (Lexile 860L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is The siege appropriate for?

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

What genre is The siege?

The siege is fiction — Young Adult Fiction.

Does The siege have any content warnings?

The siege 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 siege?

The siege by Mark Alpert is 275 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

The siege

Mark Alpert

The siege

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Mark Alpert

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.

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

The sharp whir of machines fills the air, cold and electric against your skin. Somewhere in the shadows, a powerful mind made of code plots its next move, threatening everything you hold dear. Can the superhuman Six stop an enemy that knows their every weakness?

Themes

Science & Nature Adventure FriendshipGood and EvilArtificial Intelligence

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade science fiction novel continues the story of a group of superhuman teens battling a rogue artificial intelligence named Sigma. It explores themes of teamwork, trust, and the dangers of advanced technology with some suspenseful moments appropriate for readers ages 9 to 12. Parents should note the presence of mild peril and thematic elements of good versus evil.

Why we rated The siege 10LE

The siege is written at a Level 5-6 reading level with a Lexile measure of 860L across 275 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 6.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The siege works for readers up to grade 7.5.

We rate The siege 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 siege explores science & nature, adventure, friendship, good and evil, and artificial intelligence — 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 science & nature, adventure, friendship.