Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated
The wicked will rise
D. M. Paige
The wicked will rise
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by D. M. Paige
The text is written at a 5th 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
What if the magical land of Oz wasn’t as wonderful as you thought? Imagine Dorothy isn’t the hero but a powerful ruler who’s taken control, and the witches you feared have teamed up to stop her. Now, it’s up to Amy, the girl from Kansas, to find the truth and decide who is really good or wicked—and everything is at stake.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fantasy novel follows Amy Gumm, a girl from Kansas who finds herself in a dark, twisted version of Oz where the traditional roles of good and evil are reversed. The story explores themes of bravery, loyalty, and moral complexity as Amy joins forces with witches to challenge a tyrannical Dorothy. Appropriate for ages 9-12, the book contains fantasy violence and intense moments but is suitable for readers ready for a more complex adventure.
Why we rated The wicked will rise 10ME
The wicked will rise is written at a Level 5-6 reading level with a Lexile measure of 820L across 293 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 6.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The wicked will rise works for readers up to grade 7.5.
We rate The wicked will rise as 10ME ("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, physical peril, 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 wicked will rise explores fantasy world-building, adventure, good and evil, friendship, and coming of age — 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 fantasy world-building, adventure, good and evil.
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
10ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
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
- 9780062280701
- Pages
- 293
- Publisher
- HarperCollins
- Published
- 2015
- Type
- Fiction
- Lexile
- 820L