What reading level is The stranger game?

The stranger game by Cylin Busby is at a Level 5-6 reading level (Lexile 770L). Recommended for Upper Grades readers (Ages 13+).

What age is The stranger game appropriate for?

The stranger game is recommended for Ages 13+. HootRating: 10ME (Moderate — Emotional). Content flags: Loss & Grief, Bullying, Fear & Anxiety, Mystery, Identity & Self-Discovery.

What genre is The stranger game?

The stranger game is fiction — Young Adult Fiction.

Does The stranger game have any content warnings?

The stranger game has a HootRating of 10ME (Moderate — Emotional). Content flags include: Loss & Grief, Bullying, Fear & Anxiety, Mystery, Identity & Self-Discovery. 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 stranger game?

The stranger game by Cylin Busby is 281 pages (approximately 61,856 words).

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

The stranger game

Cylin Busby

The stranger game

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Cylin Busby

Reading Level 5-6 10ME Ages 13+ Matched Rich Discussion

The text is written at a 5th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.

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About This Book

Nico's older sister Sarah has been missing for years, and while everyone mourns, Nico secretly feels freed from her sister's harshness. When Sarah suddenly returns, changed and suffering from amnesia, the family struggles to piece together the mystery of her disappearance. As secrets unravel, Nico confronts unsettling truths that challenge everything she thought she knew about her sister and their past.

Themes

SistersFamily Mystery Coming of AgeJuvenile Fiction

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 5-6 book with moderate content intensity. Content themes include loss & grief, bullying, fear & anxiety. Written for readers ages 13+.

Why we rated The stranger game 10ME

The stranger game is written at a Level 5-6 reading level with a Lexile measure of 770L across 281 pages (approximately 61,856 words). Strong independent readers around grade 6.2 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The stranger game works for readers up to grade 7.2.

Read aloud, The stranger game runs about 6.9 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.

We rate The stranger game as 10ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Loss & Grief, Bullying, Fear & Anxiety, Mystery, Identity & Self-Discovery.

Thematically, The stranger game explores sisters, family, mystery, coming of age, and juvenile fiction — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers. Each of these themes is concrete enough to seed a real conversation, not just a moral lesson.

Good fit for

✓ Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
✓ Family book clubs, classroom read-alouds, and parents who want a strong conversation hook.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about sisters, family, mystery.

Maybe not for

! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
! Children currently coping with grief — the themes may hit close to home.