Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated
The summer prince
Alaya Dawn Johnson
The summer prince
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Alaya Dawn Johnson
The text is written at a 5th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes.
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About This Book
Set in a futuristic Brazil, a young artist named June finds herself drawn into a passionate romance with a fellow creator who leads a rebellion against the ruling powers. As they navigate their love and fight for freedom, June faces the harsh reality that every summer ruler meets a tragic fate. Their story blends art, resistance, and the struggle for survival in a vibrant, dangerous world.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 5-6 book with intense content intensity. Content themes include sexual content, profanity, violence. Written for readers ages 13+.
Why we rated The summer prince 10IP
The summer prince is written at a Level 5-6 reading level with a Lexile measure of 780L across 289 pages (approximately 92,134 words). Strong independent readers around grade 6.3 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The summer prince works for readers up to grade 7.3.
Read aloud, The summer prince runs about 10.2 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.
We rate The summer prince as 10IP ("Intense — Physical") because the content sits in the "Intense" range — intense conflict including peril, frightening scenes, or emotionally heavy themes. 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: Sexual Content, Profanity, Violence, Political Conflict.
Thematically, The summer prince explores love, artists, resistance to government, kings and queens, and fiction — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about love, artists, resistance to government.
Maybe not for
- ! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
- ! Children younger than 13+ — the content intensity is above what most younger kids can process comfortably.
- ! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
10IP — Intense — PhysicalHeavy themes explored in depth. War, death, abuse addressed directly.
Content Flags
Was our "Intense" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A 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
- 9780545417792
- Pages
- 289
- Publisher
- Arthur A. Levine Books
- Published
- May, 2013
- Type
- Fiction
- Word Count
- 92,134
- Lexile
- 780L
- Read-Aloud
- ~10h 14m
- Text Density
- Dense