Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated
Under his spell
Marie P. Croall
Under his spell
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Book 4
by Marie P. Croall
The text is written at a 3rd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes. Its HootRating code, ME, means moderate content, mostly emotional.
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About This Book
Allein Atwood isn’t your average exchange student—he’s got otherworldly charm and a secret that turns Bethany’s quiet town upside down. Soccer and coffee are just the beginning when savage creatures come hunting. What happens when a normal girl gets caught in a supernatural battle for love and survival?
Quick Assessment
This young adult paranormal romance follows Bethany, a typical high schooler whose life changes dramatically when an enigmatic foreign exchange student arrives. The story blends supernatural elements with themes of young love and danger, suitable for teens 13 and up. Parents should note the presence of fantasy violence and romantic themes within a suspenseful, action-driven plot.
Why we rated Under his spell ME (Moderate)
Under his spell is written at a Level 3 reading level across 132 pages. Upper Grades (Ages 13+) is the typical interest range for this book — readers in that age band have the maturity and attention span suited to the story, separate from whether they can decode the words.
We rate Under his spell as ME (Moderate, mostly 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 — 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, Under his spell explores romance, paranormal, young adult fiction, and adventure — 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about romance, paranormal, young adult fiction.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
For Parents
Content Intensity
ME · Moderate · EmotionalReading the HootRating code: the first letter is the content intensity (C = Gentle · L = Mild · M = Moderate · I = Intense · V = Very Intense); the second, when there is one, is the kind of content that drives it (E = Emotional · P = Physical · S = Social · T = Thematic). Reading level and age range are rated separately. How we rate
Real stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780761356028
- Pages
- 132
- Publisher
- Graphic Universe
- Published
- 2011
- Type
- Fiction