An Angel for May
Melvin Burgess
An Angel for May
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Melvin Burgess
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 mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
Tam sprints through the misty fields, heart pounding as he catches glimpses of a girl hiding in the shadows of an old farmhouse. Suddenly, a loud noise echoes across the valley — and everything changes in an instant. What secret is she hiding, and can Tam help her before it's too late?
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade historical fiction follows Tam as he travels back to World War II-era England, where he befriends a young girl coping with trauma on a rural farm. The story gently explores themes of friendship and resilience during challenging times, appropriate for readers aged 9 to 12. Parents should note the historical setting includes references to wartime hardship but presents them in an age-appropriate manner.
Why we rated An Angel for May 9LE
An Angel for May is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 158 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, An Angel for May works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate An Angel for May as 9LE ("Light — Emotional") 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.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, An Angel for May explores friendship, historical, 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, historical, coming of age.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780745144948
- Pages
- 158
- Publisher
- Penguin Books, Limited (UK)
- Published
- March 1994
- Type
- Fiction