What reading level is With malice?

With malice by Eileen Cook is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 730L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is With malice appropriate for?

With malice is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9ME (Moderate — Emotional).

Does With malice have any content warnings?

With malice has a HootRating of 9ME (Moderate — Emotional). No specific content flags noted. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is With malice?

With malice by Eileen Cook is 316 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

With malice

Eileen Cook

With malice

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Eileen Cook

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

What happens when you wake up and can't remember six whole weeks of your life? Jill's senior trip to Italy was supposed to be amazing, but now she’s in a hospital with no memory and a mystery hanging over her head. Was the accident really an accident, or is there something more dangerous hidden in the shadows?

Themes

MysteryAmnesiaFriendshipAccidentsDetective Stories

Quick Assessment

This psychological thriller follows 18-year-old Jill, who suffers from amnesia after a serious accident during her senior trip to Italy. As she recovers, Jill uncovers unsettling truths about the accident and her life, making this an intense mystery suited for mature middle grade readers. Parents should note themes of memory loss, accident trauma, and suspenseful intrigue.

Why we rated With malice 9ME

With malice is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 730L across 316 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, With malice works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate With malice 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, 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, With malice explores mystery, amnesia, friendship, accidents, and detective stories — 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 mystery, amnesia, friendship.

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.