Voices
Ursula K. Le Guin
Voices
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Ursula K. Le Guin
The text is written at a 5th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for older middle graders (ages 11+), and the content is intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes.
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About This Book
Memer discovers her unique voice holds the power to challenge the darkness engulfing her land. Amidst danger and loss, she bravely fights to bring hope and freedom back to her people. This tale weaves magic and courage in a world shadowed by conflict.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 5-6 book with intense content intensity. Content themes include death of a parent, animal death, animal abuse. Written for readers ages 11+.
Why we rated Voices 10IE
Voices is written at a Level 5-6 reading level across 233 pages (approximately 72,264 words). Strong independent readers around grade 6.9 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Voices works for readers up to grade 7.9.
Read aloud, Voices runs about 8 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.
We rate Voices as 10IE ("Intense — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Intense" range — intense conflict including peril, frightening scenes, or emotionally heavy themes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, physical peril — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Death of a Parent, Animal Death, Animal Abuse, Torture, Hanging, Burning Alive, Physical Harm, Emotional Loss.
Thematically, Voices explores fantasy, courage, freedom, war & conflict, and adventure — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 11+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about fantasy, courage, freedom.
- ✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there are 2 more books in the Annals of the Western Shore series.
Maybe not for
- ! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
- ! Children younger than 11+ — the content intensity is above what most younger kids can process comfortably.
- ! Children currently coping with grief — the themes may hit close to home.
For Parents
Content Intensity
10IE — Intense — EmotionalHeavy themes explored in depth. War, death, abuse addressed directly.
Content Flags
Was our "Intense" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
4/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
More in the Annals of the Western Shore Series
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0152056785
- Pages
- 233
- Publisher
- Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
- Published
- 2006
- Type
- Fiction
- Word Count
- 72,264
- Read-Aloud
- ~8h 2m
- Text Density
- Dense