We Are Wolves
Katrina Nannestad
We Are Wolves
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Katrina Nannestad
The text is written at a 7th 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
The cold wind bites at your cheeks as you clutch your little sister’s hand, the crunch of frost underfoot the only sound in the silent forest. Every shadow holds a secret, every step feels like a daring escape. Can two orphans survive the wild when the world seems to have turned against them?
Quick Assessment
We Are Wolves follows two young siblings who must rely on each other to survive after becoming orphans. Set against the backdrop of a harsh wilderness, this middle-grade novel explores themes of family, resilience, and survival. Suitable for ages 9-12, it contains mild peril but handles difficult emotions with sensitivity.
Why we rated We Are Wolves 12ME
We Are Wolves is written at a Level 7 reading level across 304 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, We Are Wolves works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate We Are Wolves 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, We Are Wolves explores survival, family, orphans & foster care, and adventure — 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 survival, family, orphans & foster care.
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
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781665904223
- Pages
- 304
- Publisher
- Simon and Schuster
- Published
- 2022
- Type
- Fiction