By the standing stone
Maxine Trottier
By the standing stone
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Maxine Trottier
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 you were taken far from home just as a great war was about to begin? Mack and Jamie MacNeil must navigate wild forests and make new friends among the Oneida people while escaping a dangerous enemy. Every step could change their fate forever—can they survive the adventure that lies ahead?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade historical adventure follows siblings Mack and Jamie MacNeil after they are kidnapped during the tense period before the American Revolution. Set in the wilderness of North America, the story explores themes of bravery, friendship, and cultural encounter with the Oneida people. Suitable for ages 9-12, the book contains mild peril and political intrigue but is appropriate for middle-grade readers interested in history and adventure.
Why we rated By the standing stone 11ME
By the standing stone is written at a Level 6 reading level across 246 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, By the standing stone works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate By the standing stone 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, physical peril — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Kidnapping, Mild Peril.
Thematically, By the standing stone explores adventure, friendship, historical, cultural encounter, 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.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about adventure, friendship, historical.
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.
Content Flags
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
- 0773761381
- Pages
- 246
- Publisher
- Circle of Silver Chronicles
- Published
- 2000
- Type
- Fiction