The wild women of Lake Anna
Linda G. Salisbury
The wild women of Lake Anna
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Bailey Fish Adventure
by Linda G. Salisbury
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
Have you ever wondered what it means to be truly fearless? Eleven-year-old Bailey Fish finds herself in a new town, living with her grandmother by Lake Anna, where stories of brave women from her family spark a fire inside her. Can Bailey discover her own wild spirit and face the challenges ahead?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows Bailey, an eleven-year-old girl who moves to live with her grandmother in Virginia. Inspired by family stories of strong, independent women, Bailey embarks on a journey of self-discovery and courage. The book thoughtfully explores themes of family change, identity, and resilience, making it appropriate for readers aged 9 to 12.
Why we rated The wild women of Lake Anna 9LE
The wild women of Lake Anna is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 164 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The wild women of Lake Anna works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate The wild women of Lake Anna as 9LE ("Light — 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 wild women of Lake Anna explores family, coming of age, identity & self-discovery, grandparents, and moving — 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 family, coming of age, identity & self-discovery.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A 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
- 1881539377
- Pages
- 164
- Publisher
- Tabby House
- Published
- 2005
- Type
- Fiction