The stone heart
Faith Erin Hicks
The stone heart
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Faith Erin Hicks
The text is written at a 6th 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
What if your home changed every time someone new came to take over? Imagine living in a city with no name, where everyone tries to stay out of trouble. But when Rat, a local, and Kaidu, from the new rulers, have to team up, the whole future of the city hangs in the balance.
Themes
Quick Assessment
The Stone Heart is a middle-grade graphic novel that explores themes of survival, friendship, and cooperation in a city caught between repeated invasions. Suitable for ages 9-12, it presents complex social dynamics through engaging characters without graphic content. The story encourages discussions about trust, identity, and working together despite differences.
Why we rated The stone heart 11LE
The stone heart is written at a Level 6 reading level across 246 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The stone heart works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate The stone heart as 11LE ("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 stone heart explores cities and towns, survival, friendship, comic books, and adventure — 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 cities and towns, survival, friendship.
- ✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781626721586
- Pages
- 246
- Publisher
- First Second Books
- Published
- 2017
- Type
- Nonfiction