We Hear The Dead
Dianne K. Salerni
We Hear The Dead
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Dianne K. Salerni
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
Set in a time when the supernatural captivated many, two sisters transform a childhood trick into a lifelong pursuit of spiritual communication. Amidst their journey, a heartfelt romance unfolds between one sister and a daring Arctic explorer, blending mystery and history in a tale of love and belief.
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 7-8 book with moderate content intensity. Content themes include romantic content, historical, identity & self-discovery. Written for readers ages 13+.
Why we rated We Hear The Dead 12ME
We Hear The Dead is written at a Level 7-8 reading level (approximately 108,079 words). Strong independent readers around grade 8.7 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, We Hear The Dead works for readers up to grade 9.7.
Read aloud, We Hear The Dead runs about 12 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.
We rate We Hear The Dead 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, social complexity — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Romantic Content, Historical, Identity & Self-Discovery.
Thematically, We Hear The Dead explores historical, romance, family, coming of age, and mystery — 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, romance, 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.
Content Flags
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
6/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781402230929
- Publisher
- Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
- Published
- 2010
- Type
- Fiction
- Word Count
- 108,079
- Read-Aloud
- ~12h 1m