The Telling

The Telling is written at a Level 6-7 reading level across 264 pages (approximately 60,383 words). Strong independent readers around grade 7.4 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The Telling works for readers up to grade 8.4.

Read aloud, The Telling runs about 6.7 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.

We rate The Telling as 11ME ("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: Identity & Self-Discovery, Social Conflict.

Thematically, The Telling explores science & nature, adventure, coming of age, social justice, and fantasy world-building — 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.