What reading level is Across the Puddingstone Dam?

Across the Puddingstone Dam by Melissa Wiley is at a Level 5-6 reading level. Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Across the Puddingstone Dam appropriate for?

Across the Puddingstone Dam is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 10C (Clear).

What genre is Across the Puddingstone Dam?

Across the Puddingstone Dam is fiction — Juvenile Fiction. Part of the Little House Chapter Books series.

Does Across the Puddingstone Dam have any content warnings?

Across the Puddingstone Dam has a HootRating of 10C (Clear). 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 Across the Puddingstone Dam?

Across the Puddingstone Dam by Melissa Wiley is 208 pages (approximately 31,233 words).

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

Across the Puddingstone Dam

Melissa Wiley

Across the Puddingstone Dam

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Melissa Wiley

Little House Chapter Books

Reading Level 5-6 10C Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 5th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.

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About This Book

Eleven-year-old Charlotte Tucker cherishes her quiet life on Tide Mill Lane, but everything changes when a new dam project turns her neighborhood into a bustling construction zone. With a new school for young ladies, the excitement of a baby brother, and the return of a mysterious relative, Charlotte navigates the challenges and surprises that come with growing up in a changing world. This heartfelt tale captures family bonds and the spirit of resilience during a fascinating time in history.

Themes

FamilyHistoryComing of Age

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 5-6 book with gentle content intensity. No notable content concerns flagged. Written for readers ages 9-12.

Why we rated Across the Puddingstone Dam 10C

Across the Puddingstone Dam is written at a Level 5-6 reading level across 208 pages (approximately 31,233 words). Strong independent readers around grade 6.4 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Across the Puddingstone Dam works for readers up to grade 7.4.

Read aloud, Across the Puddingstone Dam runs about 3.5 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.

We rate Across the Puddingstone Dam as 10C ("Clear") 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, Across the Puddingstone Dam explores family, history, 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.
✓ Readers who like a steady plot with enough momentum to keep pages turning.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about family, history, coming of age.
✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there are 22 more books in the Little House Chapter Books series.

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.