Uprising
Margaret Peterson Haddix
Uprising
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Margaret Peterson Haddix
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
Have you ever wondered what it was like to work in a big, noisy factory over a hundred years ago? Bella just arrived in New York City, ready to help her family by working long hours at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. But when a sudden fire breaks out, everything changes in an instant — what will happen next?
Quick Assessment
Set in 1910 New York City, this historical fiction novel follows Bella, an immigrant girl working at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory who faces the tragic fire that became one of the worst workplace disasters in U.S. history. Suitable for ages 13 and up, the book addresses themes of immigrant life, labor conditions, and historical events with sensitivity. Parents should be aware of depictions of fire and peril that may be intense for some readers.
Why we rated Uprising 12ME
Uprising is written at a Level 7 reading level across 352 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Uprising works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Uprising 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, 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, Uprising explores historical, coming of age, family, and social justice — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers. Each of these themes is concrete enough to seed a real conversation, not just a moral lesson.
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.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about historical, coming of age, family.
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
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
5/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781416911715
- Pages
- 352
- Publisher
- Simon and Schuster
- Published
- September 25, 2007
- Type
- Fiction