Clockwork Scarab
Colleen Gleason
Clockwork Scarab
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Stoker & Holmes Book
by Colleen Gleason
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
What if your family legacy was hunting vampires and solving mysteries? Evaline Stoker and Mina Holmes never planned to follow in their famous relatives' footsteps, but when two society girls vanish under strange circumstances, they have no choice. With only a mysterious Egyptian scarab as a clue, can they uncover the truth before they become the next targets?
Quick Assessment
Clockwork Scarab is a middle-grade mystery featuring strong female protagonists inspired by famous literary detectives. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story includes themes of friendship, rivalry, and suspense as the characters investigate disappearances and murder in Victorian London. Parents should note some mild peril and fantasy elements involving vampire hunting.
Why we rated Clockwork Scarab 11LE
Clockwork Scarab is written at a Level 6 reading level across 258 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Clockwork Scarab works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Clockwork Scarab 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.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, Clockwork Scarab explores mystery, friendship, adventure, fantasy world-building, 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about mystery, friendship, adventure.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11LE — Light — EmotionalLight 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
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781944665784
- Pages
- 258
- Publisher
- Stoker and Holmes
- Published
- 2022
- Type
- Fiction