What reading level is Watership down?

Watership down by Richard Adams is at a Level 8 reading level. Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What genre is Watership down?

Watership down is fiction — Allegories.

How many pages is Watership down?

Watership down by Richard Adams is 474 pages.

Watership down

Richard Adams

Watership down

Q: What age is Watership down appropriate for?

Watership down is recommended for Ages 9-12. Content intensity: "Moderate" (3/5). Content flags: Animals are abused, An animal dies, An animal is sad, Rabbits are harmed, An animal is abandoned, Someone is restrained.

Q: Does Watership down have any content warnings?

Watership down has a content intensity rating of "Moderate" (3/5). Content flags include: Animals are abused, An animal dies, An animal is sad, Rabbits are harmed, An animal is abandoned, Someone is restrained. On HootRated, every book is rated for emotional, physical, and social content themes to help parents make informed choices.

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Richard Adams

Reading Level 8 Moderate (Lvl 3) Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 8th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.

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About This Book

What if a little rabbit could see danger before it even happened? Fiver's warning sends his family on a daring journey to find a new home, but the adventure is full of challenges they never expected. Will they find safety, or is an even bigger threat waiting for them?

Themes

CourageLeadershipAdventure SurvivalAllegoriesAnimals

Quick Assessment

Watership Down is a middle-grade novel about a group of rabbits who embark on a perilous journey to escape danger and find a new home. The story explores themes of courage, leadership, and survival, but includes some intense scenes involving animal harm, loss, and emotional distress. Suitable for ages 9-12, parents should be aware of the mature themes and animal-related content warnings.

For Parents

Content Intensity

Level 3 — Moderate

Gentle Mild Moderate Intense Very Intense

Real stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.

Content Flags

Animals are abused An animal dies An animal is sad Rabbits are harmed An animal is abandoned Someone is restrained

Data confidence: standard

Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

2/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

2/10

A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level

Emotional Weight

Theme Richness

World Scope

Data Confidence

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Details

Book Length

474 pages

ISBN: 9780141341934
Pages: 474
Publisher: Puffin Books
Published: 2012
Type: Fiction

Genres

Allegories

Subjects

AllegoriesCourageRabbitsLeadershipAdventure and AdventurersOpen Library Staff PicksSurvivalAdventure StoriesEnglish Fantasy FictionNatureFantasy FictionEffect of Human Beings onAdventure FictionQuestsLarge Type BooksGerman FictionTranslations From EnglishTranslations Into GermanEnglish FictionWatership DownClassic FictionModern FictionChild and Youth FictionWarPropagandaMoviesMotion PicturesFilmsAnimationCartoonsFantasyEnglish LiteratureEnglandEnglish Fiction Children's Stories

People

Hazel (fictional rabbit character)Fiver (fictional rabbit character)Bigwig (fictional rabbit character)Captain Holly (fictional rabbit character)General Woundwort (fictional rabbit character)El-ahrairah (fictional rabbit character)Rabscuttle (fictional rabbit character)Kehaar (fictional seagull character)

Places

Sandleford Warren (England)Watership Down (England)Nuthanger Farm (England)Efrafa (England)