Bourbon Island 1730
Trondheim, Lewis
Bourbon Island 1730
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Trondheim, Lewis
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 an island hidden in the West Indies held a secret treasure—and a dream of freedom for everyone, no matter their color? Raphael arrives with his professor to find the rare dodo, but the pirates and their bold ideas pull him into a world full of adventure and mystery. Who will find the treasure first, and what truths will they uncover about themselves?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Set in 1730 on Bourbon Island, this graphic novel follows Raphael, a young ornithologist, as he becomes immersed in the lives of pirates who dream of equality in a time of slavery and colonialism. The story addresses complex themes such as racial freedom and historical injustice through anthropomorphic animal characters, suitable for middle-grade readers aged 9-12. Parents should note the depiction of slavery and the historical setting, which provide meaningful context but may warrant discussion.
Why we rated Bourbon Island 1730 11ME
Bourbon Island 1730 is written at a Level 6 reading level across 288 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Bourbon Island 1730 works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Bourbon Island 1730 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, Bourbon Island 1730 explores graphic novels, pirates, slavery, history, and adventure — 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.
- ✓ 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 graphic novels, pirates, slavery.
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
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
2/10A 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
- 9781596432581
- Pages
- 288
- Publisher
- First Second
- Published
- 2008
- Type
- Fiction