Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated
The Unwanteds
Lisa McMann
The text is written at a 5th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material. Its HootRating code, LE, means mild content, mostly emotional.
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About This Book
Here's a secret: in a world where creativity is forbidden, being different can get you 'eliminated.' But when Aaron and Alex, identical twins, face this fate, one is sent away while the other discovers a hidden place filled with magic and wonder. And that's only the beginning.
Themes
Quick Assessment
The Unwanteds follows the story of twin brothers living in a dystopian society that punishes creativity. When they are separated at age thirteen, one attends a strict university while the other finds refuge in a magical place that nurtures talents. Suitable for middle-grade readers, this fantasy explores themes of creativity, identity, and brotherhood with some mild peril but no graphic content.
Why we rated The Unwanteds LE (Mild)
The Unwanteds is written at a Level 5-6 reading level across 390 pages. Reading-wise, most kids in grade 7 and up can manage The Unwanteds on their own; younger readers can enjoy it with a parent or teacher reading along.
We rate The Unwanteds as LE (Mild, mostly emotional) because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, The Unwanteds explores fantasy, magic, brothers, twins, and creative ability — 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about fantasy, magic, brothers.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
LE · Mild · EmotionalReading the HootRating code: the first letter is the content intensity (C = Gentle · L = Mild · M = Moderate · I = Intense · V = Very Intense); the second, when there is one, is the kind of content that drives it (E = Emotional · P = Physical · S = Social · T = Thematic). Reading level and age range are rated separately. How we rate
Light conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781442407688
- Pages
- 390
- Publisher
- Simon and Schuster
- Published
- 2011
- Type
- Fiction