Untold
Sarah Rees Brennan
Untold
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Sarah Rees Brennan
The text is written at a 7th 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
The sharp crackle of magic fills the chilly night air, swirling through the quiet streets of Sorry-in-the-Vale. Kami Glass can feel the tension prickling her skin as old friendships start to unravel and secrets whisper through the shadows. In a town where every spell has a cost, how far will she go to protect the ones she loves?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Untold follows Kami Glass and her friends as they confront powerful sorcerers in a small English town, navigating complex relationships and magical dangers. Suitable for middle-grade readers, the story explores themes of friendship, family, and courage amid fantasy conflict. Parents should note that the book includes elements of magic and mild peril but remains appropriate for ages 9 to 12.
Why we rated Untold 12ME
Untold is written at a Level 7 reading level across 370 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Untold works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Untold as 12ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. The strongest signals come from emotional weight — 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 mild intensity score.
Thematically, Untold explores magic, magicians, families, friendship, and juvenile fiction — 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 magic, magicians, families.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12ME — Moderate — 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
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780375870422
- Pages
- 370
- Publisher
- Random House Books for Young Readers
- Published
- 2013
- Type
- Fiction