A touch of magic
June Gadsby
A touch of magic
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by June Gadsby
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
I have a secret about a forest where magic might still be alive. Eleven-year-old Simon believes his dad isn’t really gone, and on Christmas, he’s determined to find the place where his father’s plane fell. But what happens deep in the Basque woods with a mysterious man named Olentzero? That’s only the beginning.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel explores the aftermath of war through the eyes of Lorna, a widow, and her son Simon, who struggles to accept his father's death. Set around Christmas, the story blends themes of loss and hope with a touch of magical realism in the Basque forest. Appropriate for ages 9-12, it sensitively handles grief and the healing power of belief.
Why we rated A touch of magic 12ME
A touch of magic is written at a Level 7 reading level across 304 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, A touch of magic works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate A touch of magic 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 — 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, A touch of magic explores family, war & conflict, magical realism, 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.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about family, war & conflict, magical realism.
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 — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781847828675
- Pages
- 304
- Publisher
- Linford
- Published
- 2009
- Type
- Fiction