Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated
The sleeping prince
Melinda Salisbury
The sleeping prince
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Sin Eater's Daughter Novel
by Melinda Salisbury
Sin Eater's Daughter
The text is written at a 5th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for older middle graders (ages 11+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
When the mysterious Sleeping Prince awakens and seizes control of the kingdom, many flee their homes, including Errin and her ailing mother. Gifted in the art of apothecary, Errin finds herself at the heart of a daring resistance that could break the prince's dark enchantment. Danger lurks as magic, monsters, and poisoned plots threaten to consume all she holds dear.
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 5-6 book with moderate content intensity. Content themes include fantasy violence, physical danger, refugees. Written for readers ages 11+.
Why we rated The sleeping prince 10MP
The sleeping prince is written at a Level 5-6 reading level with a Lexile measure of 800L across 330 pages (approximately 92,860 words). Strong independent readers around grade 6.2 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The sleeping prince works for readers up to grade 7.2.
Read aloud, The sleeping prince runs about 10.3 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.
We rate The sleeping prince as 10MP ("Moderate — Physical") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from physical peril — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Fantasy Violence, Physical Danger, Refugees, Illness & Injury.
Thematically, The sleeping prince explores magic, princes, refugees, poison, and monsters — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 11+ 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 magic, princes, refugees.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.
For Parents
Content Intensity
10MP — Moderate — PhysicalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Content Flags
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
4/10A 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
- 9780545921275
- Pages
- 330
- Publisher
- Scholastic, Incorporated
- Published
- 2016
- Type
- Fiction
- Word Count
- 92,860
- Lexile
- 800L
- Read-Aloud
- ~10h 19m
- Text Density
- Dense