What reading level is Twisted?

Twisted by Sara Shepard is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 720L). Recommended for Upper Grades readers (Ages 13+).

What age is Twisted appropriate for?

Twisted is recommended for Ages 13+. HootRating: 9ME (Moderate — Emotional). Content flags: Secrets, Bullying, Emotional: Fear & Anxiety, Emotional: Loss & Grief.

What genre is Twisted?

Twisted is fiction — Young Adult Fiction. Part of the Pretty Little Liars series.

Does Twisted have any content warnings?

Twisted has a HootRating of 9ME (Moderate — Emotional). Content flags include: Secrets, Bullying, Emotional: Fear & Anxiety, Emotional: Loss & Grief. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Twisted?

Twisted by Sara Shepard is 324 pages (approximately 65,925 words).

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

Twisted

Sara Shepard

Twisted

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Sara Shepard

Pretty Little Liars

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

Four friends face the consequences of a dark secret from their past as their final year of high school unfolds. As mysteries resurface and trust is tested, they must navigate the challenges of growing up while uncovering hidden truths. Danger and deception lurk beneath the surface, threatening to unravel everything they've worked to rebuild.

Themes

SchoolsMystery Friendship Coming of AgeSecrets

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 4-5 book with moderate content intensity. Content themes include secrets, bullying, emotional: fear & anxiety. Written for readers ages 13+.

Why we rated Twisted 9ME

Twisted is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 720L across 324 pages (approximately 65,925 words). Strong independent readers around grade 5.7 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Twisted works for readers up to grade 6.7.

Read aloud, Twisted runs about 7.3 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.

We rate Twisted 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 — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Secrets, Bullying, Emotional: Fear & Anxiety, Emotional: Loss & Grief.

Thematically, Twisted explores schools, mystery, friendship, coming of age, and secrets — 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.
✓ Readers who like a steady plot with enough momentum to keep pages turning.
✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about schools, mystery, friendship.
✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there are 13 more books in the Pretty Little Liars series.

Maybe not for

! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
! Children currently coping with grief — the themes may hit close to home.