Witch's pyre

Name: Witch's pyre
Author: Josephine Angelini
ISBN: 9781250050915

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Josephine Angelini

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.

Find on Amazon Listen on Audible

We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.

About This Book

What if you discovered you had magical powers and had to lead a battle against terrifying monsters? Lily Proctor isn’t just any girl—she’s a powerful witch caught between worlds, trying to save everyone without losing herself. But what if the biggest threat isn’t the monsters, but the darkness inside her own heart?

Themes

MagicTeenage GirlsFantasy World-Building Coming of Age Adventure

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel follows Lily Proctor, a young witch who has grown stronger and more determined after facing loss and betrayal. The story explores themes of grief, leadership, and moral choices as Lily confronts a dangerous enemy without resorting to extreme violence. Suitable for ages 9-12, the book includes fantasy violence and emotional challenges typical of the genre.

Why we rated Witch's pyre 9ME

Witch's pyre is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 780L across 376 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Witch's pyre works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate Witch's pyre 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, 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, Witch's pyre explores magic, teenage girls, fantasy world-building, coming of age, 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 magic, teenage girls, fantasy world-building.

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.