Conjuror
John Scot Barrowman
Conjuror
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by John Scot Barrowman
The text is written at a 7th 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
The sharp notes of a blues harmonica cut through the night air, carrying secrets of a lost family and a hidden power. Rémy clutches his golden pendant tightly as shadows whisper around him, and the pages of his mother’s journal flutter with untold mysteries. Magic, music, and danger swirl together—ready to change everything.
Quick Assessment
Conjuror follows Rémy, a 17-year-old boy who uses his supernatural musical abilities to seek justice for his murdered family. Set in a middle-grade appropriate fantasy world, the story involves themes of loss, friendship, and adventure with some mild peril. Suitable for ages 9-12, it contains supernatural elements and some suspense, but no graphic content.
Why we rated Conjuror 12LE
Conjuror is written at a Level 7 reading level across 320 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Conjuror works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Conjuror as 12LE ("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, Conjuror explores friendship, adventure, fantasy world-building, coming of age, and family — 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 friendship, adventure, fantasy world-building.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A 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
- 9781781856390
- Pages
- 320
- Publisher
- Head of Zeus
- Published
- 2016
- Type
- Fiction