A wizard of Mars
Diane Duane
A wizard of Mars
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Diane Duane
Young Wizards
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
Kit Rodriguez and Nita Callahan, two skilled young wizards, join a top-tier team on a thrilling mission to uncover an ancient Martian message. Their adventure leads them deep into the mysteries of a long-lost civilization on Mars, where magic and science collide. Together, they must unlock secrets that could change everything they know about the red planet.
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 6 book with mild content intensity. Content themes include mild peril, fantasy violence. Written for readers ages 13+.
Why we rated A wizard of Mars 11LP
A wizard of Mars is written at a Level 6 reading level across 515 pages (approximately 140,214 words). Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, A wizard of Mars works for readers up to grade 8.0.
Read aloud, A wizard of Mars runs about 15.6 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.
We rate A wizard of Mars as 11LP ("Light — Physical") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mild Peril, Fantasy Violence.
Thematically, A wizard of Mars explores fantasy world-building, adventure, science & nature, and friendship — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about fantasy world-building, adventure, science & nature.
Maybe not for
- ! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11LP — Light — PhysicalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Content Flags
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
4/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780152047702
- Pages
- 515
- Publisher
- Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
- Published
- 2010
- Type
- Fiction
- Word Count
- 140,214
- Read-Aloud
- ~15h 35m
- Text Density
- Dense