Clarence
Derek Fridolfs
Clarence
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
chicken phantom
by Derek Fridolfs
Illustrated by Harrison, J. J., illustrator
The text is written at a 4th 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
What if you found a secret pirate treasure map hidden in the woods during a camping trip? Clarence and his friends from the Rough Riders Scouts stumble upon a mysterious journal that not only shows where the treasure is buried but also warns about a spooky chicken phantom lurking nearby. Will they find the treasure before the phantom catches them?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Clarence is a middle-grade graphic novel that follows a group of scouts who discover a pirate's treasure map during a camping trip. The story combines adventure and humor with themes of friendship and teamwork, making it suitable for children ages 9-12. Parents should note that the story includes mild suspense related to a ghostly chicken phantom but contains no intense content.
Why we rated Clarence 9LP
Clarence is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 148 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Clarence works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Clarence as 9LP ("Light — Physical") 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.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, Clarence explores adventure, friendship, humor, scouts, and juvenile fiction — 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about adventure, friendship, humor.
- ✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LP — Light — PhysicalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781608867929
- Pages
- 148
- Publisher
- Simon and Schuster
- Published
- 2016
- Type
- Nonfiction