What reading level is The Swallow?

The Swallow by Charis Cotter is at a Level 7 reading level. Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is The Swallow appropriate for?

The Swallow is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 12ME (Moderate — Emotional).

Does The Swallow have any content warnings?

The Swallow has a HootRating of 12ME (Moderate — 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 Swallow?

The Swallow by Charis Cotter is 318 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

The Swallow

Charis Cotter

The Swallow

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

A Ghost Story

by Charis Cotter

Reading Level 7 12ME Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

Book Award: CLA Book of the Year for Children Finalist

The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.

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About This Book

The creak of old floorboards echoes through the attic where Polly hides, smelling of dust and forgotten secrets. Upstairs, Rose whispers to shadows only she can see, while the wind outside carries ghostly tales. When two lonely neighbors discover a hidden tombstone with Rose’s name, everything changes—and the line between living and ghostly blurs.

Themes

FriendshipGhost storiesHaunted housesJuvenile fictionGirlsComing of Age

Quick Assessment

Set in 1960s Toronto, this middle-grade novel explores themes of friendship, loneliness, and the supernatural through the story of two girls who share a mysterious connection. The story includes mild spooky elements and ghostly encounters but remains appropriate for ages 9-12. Parents should be aware of some suspenseful moments and themes of isolation and identity.

Why we rated The Swallow 12ME

The Swallow is written at a Level 7 reading level across 318 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The Swallow works for readers up to grade 9.0.

We rate The Swallow as 12ME ("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, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.

Thematically, The Swallow explores friendship, ghost stories, haunted houses, juvenile fiction, and girls — 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 friendship, ghost stories, haunted houses.
✓ Readers (and parents) who care about award-recognized writing — The Swallow carries an award.

Maybe not for

! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.