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All that glows

Ryan Graudin

Cover of All that glows

All that glows

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Ryan Graudin

Reading Level 8 12ME Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 8th 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 to tell you a secret: Emrys isn’t just any guard—she’s a fierce Faery Guard sworn to protect the British prince. But when magic and danger swirl around London, and the king is mysteriously killed, Emrys has to face a choice that could change everything. And that’s only the beginning.

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade fantasy novel follows Emrys, a Faery Guard tasked with protecting Prince Richard from threats both magical and human. The story combines elements of magic, royal intrigue, and forbidden friendship with some suspenseful moments, making it suitable for readers aged 9 to 12. Parents should be aware of themes involving royal assassination and magical conflict, though these are handled with appropriate intensity for the age group.

Why we rated All that glows 12ME

All that glows is written at a Level 8 reading level across 463 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 9.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, All that glows works for readers up to grade 10.0.

We rate All that glows 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, physical peril, thematic difficulty — 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, All that glows explores fantasy world-building, adventure, friendship, coming of age, and family — 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 fantasy world-building, adventure, friendship.

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 — Emotional
Emotional
Moderate
Physical
Moderate
Social
Light
Thematic
Moderate

Real stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.

Data confidence: standard

Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

2/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

4/10

Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
7
Emotional Weight
6
Theme Richness
5
World Scope
5
Data Confidence
7

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Details

Book Length

463 pages
ISBN
9780062187413
Pages
463
Publisher
HarperTeen
Published
2014
Type
Fiction

Genres

Subjects

Kings and RulersMagicPrincesFairiesKings, Queens, RulersBodyguardsLove & RomanceLegends, Myths, FablesOtherPeople & PlacesEuropeKingsQueensRulersEtcLondon

Places

EnglandLondon (England)