Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated
Clockwork prince
Cassandra Clare
Infernal Devices
The text is written at a 5th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes. Its HootRating code, ME, means moderate content, mostly emotional.
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About This Book
In a London filled with magic and danger, Tessa Gray teams up with Shadowhunters to protect her friend Charlotte from losing her powers. Together, they face dark forces and unravel mysterious secrets lurking in the shadows. Adventure and supernatural suspense await in this thrilling tale.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 5-6 book with moderate content intensity. Content themes include fantasy violence, physical danger, emotional: fear & anxiety. Written for readers ages 13+.
Why we rated Clockwork prince ME (Moderate)
Clockwork prince is written at a Level 5-6 reading level across 502 pages (approximately 139,556 words). Upper Grades (Ages 13+) is the typical interest range for this book — readers in that age band have the maturity and attention span suited to the story, separate from whether they can decode the words.
Read aloud, Clockwork prince runs about 15.5 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.
We rate Clockwork prince as ME (Moderate, mostly 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: Fantasy Violence, Physical Danger, Emotional: Fear & Anxiety.
Thematically, Clockwork prince explores supernatural, adventure, friendship, family, and fantasy world-building — 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 supernatural, adventure, friendship.
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
ME · Moderate · EmotionalReading the HootRating code: the first letter is the content intensity (C = Gentle · L = Mild · M = Moderate · I = Intense · V = Very Intense); the second, when there is one, is the kind of content that drives it (E = Emotional · P = Physical · S = Social · T = Thematic). Reading level and age range are rated separately. How we rate
Real 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
4/10A denser, slower-paced 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
- 9781416975885
- Pages
- 502
- Publisher
- Simon and Schuster
- Published
- 2011
- Type
- Fiction
- Word Count
- 139,556
- Read-Aloud
- ~15h 30m
- Text Density
- Dense