The Taking
Kimberly Derting
The Taking
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
The Taking #1
by Kimberly Derting
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
Kyra wakes up confused—five years have vanished in a flash of light, but she’s still sixteen. Her world has changed without her: parents divorced, her boyfriend moved on, and secrets lurking in the shadows. When she and Tyler start retracing that night, they uncover a chilling truth about others who disappeared like her—but why was she the only one to come back?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows Kyra, a teenage girl who wakes up after a mysterious five-year disappearance with no memory of the time lost. As she navigates changed relationships and hidden dangers, Kyra seeks answers alongside Tyler, uncovering a secret government agency and others who vanished similarly. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story contains themes of kidnapping and emotional upheaval but handles them with suspense appropriate for middle-grade readers.
Why we rated The Taking 12ME
The Taking is written at a Level 7 reading level across 357 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The Taking works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate The Taking 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.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Kidnapping.
Thematically, The Taking explores kidnapping, teenagers, friendship, mystery, and family — 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 kidnapping, teenagers, friendship.
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.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal 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
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780062293602
- Pages
- 357
- Publisher
- HarperTeen
- Published
- 2014
- Type
- Fiction