What reading level is When we wake?

When we wake by Karen Healey is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 770L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is When we wake appropriate for?

When we wake is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9ME (Moderate — Emotional). Content flags: Mild Peril.

What genre is When we wake?

When we wake is fiction — Young Adult Fiction.

Does When we wake have any content warnings?

When we wake has a HootRating of 9ME (Moderate — Emotional). Content flags include: Mild Peril. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is When we wake?

When we wake by Karen Healey is 296 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

When we wake

Karen Healey

When we wake

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Karen Healey

Reading Level 4-5 9ME Ages 9-12 Matched

The text is written at a 4th 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

Tegan’s heart races as she strums her guitar, surrounded by friends shouting for justice. Suddenly, everything goes dark—then she wakes up a hundred years later, trapped in a strange government lab with no memory of how she got there. What secrets lie ahead, and will she find a way to fight back?

Themes

Science & Nature Adventure Social Justice Coming of Age Friendship Family Multicultural

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade science fiction novel follows sixteen-year-old Tegan, who unexpectedly wakes up a century in the future after being cryonically frozen. The story explores themes of environmental collapse, social justice, and political intrigue as Tegan navigates a new world and must decide whether to conform or resist. Suitable for ages 9-12, it contains mild peril and thought-provoking themes appropriate for middle-grade readers.

Why we rated When we wake 9ME

When we wake is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 770L across 296 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, When we wake works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate When we wake as 9ME ("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, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mild Peril.

Thematically, When we wake explores science & nature, adventure, social justice, coming of age, and friendship — 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 9-12 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 science & nature, adventure, social justice.

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.