Calico Bush
Rachel Field
Calico Bush
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Rachel Field
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
Marguerite’s heart races as she trudges through the thick Maine woods, knowing the family she serves barely trusts her. Suddenly, a shadow moves nearby—could it be the feared Indians or something even more dangerous? Everything depends on her next move.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Set in 1743 Maine, this historical fiction follows thirteen-year-old Marguerite Ledoux, an indentured servant facing distrust from the family she serves and the challenges of frontier life. The story explores themes of resilience, courage, and cultural tensions appropriate for middle-grade readers aged 9-12. Parents should note the book includes historical context with some depictions of prejudice and survival in a frontier setting.
Why we rated Calico Bush 11LE
Calico Bush is written at a Level 6 reading level across 206 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Calico Bush works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Calico Bush as 11LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mild Peril, Fear & Anxiety, Cultural Prejudice.
Thematically, Calico Bush explores frontier and pioneer life, orphans, family, courage, and historical — 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about frontier and pioneer life, orphans, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Content Flags
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A 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
- 9789994464593
- Pages
- 206
- Publisher
- Simon and Schuster
- Published
- October 1990
- Type
- Fiction