A splash of forever
Sue Bentley
A splash of forever
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Sue Bentley
Illustrated by Swan, Angela, 1982- illustrator
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.
We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.
About This Book
Here's a secret: Alice Forester is scared of the water, even though everyone else can’t wait to dive in. Then she meets Flame, a soft grey and white kitten who seems to know just how to help her find courage. But that’s only the beginning of Alice’s magical journey.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction follows Alice, a girl who must overcome her fear of swimming with the help of a special kitten named Flame. The story gently explores themes of courage and facing fears, making it suitable for readers aged 9 to 12. There is no intense content, making it a light and encouraging read for children.
Why we rated A splash of forever 9LE
A splash of forever is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 113 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, A splash of forever works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate A splash of forever as 9LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.
Thematically, A splash of forever explores fantasy & magic, friendship, family, coming of age, and animals — 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 fantasy & magic, friendship, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LE — Light — EmotionalNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
A splash of magic
Sue Bentley
A splash of magic
Sue Bentley
A shimmering splash
Sue Bentley
A shimmering splash
Sue Bentley
Sparkling Steps
Bentley, Sue
Sparkling Steps
Bentley, Sue
A Glittering Gallop: Magic Kitten #8
Sue Bentley
A Glittering Gallop: Magic Kitten #8
Sue Bentley
Picture perfect
Sue Bentley
Picture perfect
Sue Bentley
Glittering Gallop
Bentley, Sue
Glittering Gallop
Bentley, Sue
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780448467979
- Pages
- 113
- Publisher
- Penguin
- Published
- 2014
- Type
- Fiction