Bobby Lee Claremont and the criminal element
Jeannie Mobley
Bobby Lee Claremont and the criminal element
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Jeannie Mobley
The text is written at a 6th 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
What if a train ride could change everything? Thirteen-year-old Bobby Lee Claremont boards a Chicago-bound train, hoping for a fresh start in the bustling city’s mysterious mob scene. But when a widow and her suspicious companions come aboard, Bobby Lee must uncover the truth before the secrets on this train catch up with him.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Set in 1923, this middle-grade novel follows thirteen-year-old Bobby Lee Claremont as he leaves an orphanage and embarks on a train journey to Chicago, where he becomes entangled in a murder mystery involving a widow, her companions, and Prohibition-era dangers. The story explores historical themes such as segregation, the jazz age, and organized crime, making it appropriate for ages 9-12 with its suspenseful but age-appropriate content.
Why we rated Bobby Lee Claremont and the criminal element 11ME
Bobby Lee Claremont and the criminal element is written at a Level 6 reading level across 229 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Bobby Lee Claremont and the criminal element works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Bobby Lee Claremont and the criminal element as 11ME ("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, Bobby Lee Claremont and the criminal element explores mystery, historical, friendship, coming of age, and family — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers. Each of these themes is concrete enough to seed a real conversation, not just a moral lesson.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about mystery, historical, friendship.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11ME — 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
3/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
5/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780823437818
- Pages
- 229
- Publisher
- National Geographic Books
- Published
- 2017
- Type
- Fiction