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Them (Remnants, #03)

Katherine Applegate

Cover of Them (Remnants, #03)

Them (Remnants, #03)

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Katherine Applegate

Reading Level 4-5 9ME Ages 13+ Matched

The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.

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About This Book

Here's a secret: after escaping Earth's end, only a few Remnants survive in a far-off future. When Job and Mo'Steel find a strange tower and a hurt alien inside, everything they thought they knew starts to change—but that's only the beginning.

Quick Assessment

This young adult science fiction novel follows a small group of survivors who travel 500 years into the future, only to find themselves stranded on an alien world. The story explores themes of survival, trust, and the challenges of encountering unknown life forms. Suitable for teens, the book contains mild peril and complex social dynamics but is appropriate for readers aged 13 and up.

Why we rated Them (Remnants, #03) 9ME

Them (Remnants, #03) is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 171 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Them (Remnants, #03) works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate Them (Remnants, #03) as 9ME ("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, Them (Remnants, #03) explores science & nature, adventure, friendship, fantasy world-building, and extraterrestrial beings — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.

Good fit for

  • Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
  • Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
  • Kids drawn to stories about science & nature, adventure, 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

9ME — Moderate — Emotional
Emotional
Moderate
Physical
Moderate
Social
Light
Thematic
Moderate

Real stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.

Data confidence: standard

Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

2/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

2/10

A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
4
Emotional Weight
6
Theme Richness
6
World Scope
1
Data Confidence
7

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Details

Book Length

171 pages
ISBN
9780613438988
Pages
171
Publisher
Turtleback Books
Published
August 2001
Type
Fiction

Subjects

Science Fiction, Fantasy, & MagicExtraterrestrial BeingsInterplanetary VoyagesScience Fiction