My daughter is 9 and received this book for Christmas. Everyone was telling us it was a great book but couldn't remember details. I decided to read it before my daughter. I am glad I did. The book starts off with the mother already having died. The father is killed along with most of her tribe. To top it all off the little brother is also killed. The girl also kills several animals, all without much feeling if any. They give a reading age of (9-12). It is considered a young adult read. My daughter is not an adult of any kind. She is a child. The content of the book is a bit much for a child who loves family and animals. My daughter is an advanced reader but I would not want her reading this book until she was much older. As far as I'm concerned it was an okay read, but for now it will stay on the shelf.