Uncanny
Sarah Fine
Uncanny
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Sarah Fine
The text is written at a 7th 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: Cora saw something no one else remembers—the night her stepsister Hannah died. But when she wakes up, her memory is wiped clean, and the truth feels just out of reach. What really happened to Hannah? That's only the beginning.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This young adult science fiction novel follows Cora, a teenager who wakes up with no memory of her stepsister Hannah's death, despite having witnessed it. As Cora works with an AI counselor to uncover the truth, themes of memory loss, grief, and technology are explored. Suitable for ages 13 and up, the book deals with death and mystery but contains no graphic content.
Why we rated Uncanny 12ME
Uncanny is written at a Level 7 reading level across 301 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Uncanny works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Uncanny as 12ME ("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, 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, Uncanny explores young adult fiction, science fiction, death, mystery, and grief — 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 young adult fiction, science fiction, death.
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
12ME — 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
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781542046466
- Pages
- 301
- Publisher
- Skyscape
- Published
- 2017
- Type
- Fiction