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Wicked

Nancy Holder

Cover of Wicked

Wicked

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

Witch & Curse

by Nancy Holder

Reading Level 7 12ME Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

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

What if you discovered you were part of a secret world of witches, tangled in a battle that spans generations? Holly Cather and her twin cousins, Amanda and Nicole, find themselves caught between powerful rival clans with dark histories. Can they unlock their true powers before the ancient feud tears them apart?

Themes

ReincarnationSupernaturalWitchesFriendshipComing of Age

Quick Assessment

This collection features two novels about young witches navigating complex family rivalries and supernatural challenges. Suitable for middle-grade readers, it explores themes of reincarnation and witchcraft within a suspenseful, fantasy setting. Parents should note the presence of magical conflict and some intense moments related to intergenerational feuds.

Why we rated Wicked 12ME

Wicked is written at a Level 7 reading level across 361 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Wicked works for readers up to grade 9.0.

We rate Wicked 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, thematic difficulty — 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, Wicked explores reincarnation, supernatural, witches, friendship, and coming of age — 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 reincarnation, supernatural, witches.

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 — Emotional
Emotional
Moderate
Physical
Light
Social
Clear
Thematic
Moderate

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

Data confidence: standard

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

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

1/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

3/10

A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
6
Emotional Weight
6
Theme Richness
5
World Scope
1
Data Confidence
7

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Details

Book Length

361 pages
ISBN
9781435120006
Pages
361
Publisher
Simon Pulse
Published
2009
Type
Fiction

Genres

Students

Subjects

ReincarnationSupernaturalWitchesWomen College StudentsStudentsFamilyScience Fiction