By the River of Life
Scott Carneal
By the River of Life
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Scott Carneal
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
What if a simple walk led you straight into a mystery from the past? Imagine finding an old diary and a pool of blood inside an abandoned house—how would you unravel the secrets hidden for over a century? Two friends are about to discover that some adventures come with unexpected danger.
Quick Assessment
By the River of Life follows two teenagers who stumble upon a Civil War-era diary and a chilling scene in an abandoned house, sparking a suspenseful journey filled with historical intrigue and danger. Suitable for readers aged 13 and up, the book includes themes of mystery and mild peril, making it a compelling read for young adults interested in history and adventure.
Why we rated By the River of Life 9MP
By the River of Life is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 132 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, By the River of Life works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate By the River of Life as 9MP ("Moderate — Physical") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from physical peril — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mild Peril, Historical Violence.
Thematically, By the River of Life explores friendship, adventure, mystery, and historical — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, adventure, mystery.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9MP — Moderate — PhysicalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Content Flags
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
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781555234607
- Pages
- 132
- Publisher
- Winston-Derek Publishers
- Published
- August 1992
- Type
- Fiction