Cogheart
Peter Bunzl
Cogheart
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Peter Bunzl
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 would you do if your dad suddenly vanished without a trace? Thirteen-year-old Lily Hartman is thrown into a whirlwind of secrets, steam-powered machines, and shadowy villains. With her clever friend Robert and her brave mechanimal fox Malkin by her side, the clock is ticking—but will they uncover the truth before it’s too late?
Quick Assessment
Cogheart is a middle-grade adventure that follows Lily Hartman as she searches for her missing father and unravels the mystery behind his invention, a perpetual motion machine. The story blends elements of science fiction and steampunk, featuring themes of friendship, bravery, and family. Suitable for ages 9-12, it involves mild peril and complex problem-solving but contains no graphic content.
Why we rated Cogheart 11LE
Cogheart is written at a Level 6 reading level across 226 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Cogheart works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Cogheart 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, Cogheart explores adventure, friendship, family, science & nature, and mystery — 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, family.
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
- 9781631632884
- Pages
- 226
- Publisher
- North Star Editions, Inc.
- Published
- 2019
- Type
- Fiction