Ashanti
Clifford A. Pulis
Ashanti
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Clifford A. Pulis
The text is written at a 4th 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
Ladd clings to the rocking boat as stormy waves crash all around him. Suddenly, the world blurs and he finds himself in the past, standing on a sprawling plantation where life is harsh and freedom is a distant dream. But when he meets those longing to escape, will he risk everything to help them?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade historical fiction novel follows twelve-year-old Ladd, who time-travels to the Great Caneel Bay Plantation in the Virgin Islands after a tragic accident. The story sensitively explores themes of slavery, loss, and courage suitable for ages 9-12, with some mature topics handled thoughtfully. Parents should be aware of the book’s depiction of historical hardships and death.
Why we rated Ashanti 9ME
Ashanti is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 165 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Ashanti works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Ashanti as 9ME ("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, social complexity, 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, Ashanti explores time travel, slavery, death, historical, 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 time travel, slavery, death.
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
9ME — 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
2/10A 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
- 0310469511
- Pages
- 165
- Publisher
- Zondervan
- Published
- 1983
- Type
- Fiction