Cop killer
Tom Philbin
Cop killer
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Tom Philbin
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
What happens when a city’s toughest detectives face a ruthless cop killer? In a precinct nicknamed 'Siberia,' they race against time while a shadowy gang kidnaps babies and a cruel mugger targets the elderly. Can justice survive in a place where danger lurks at every corner?
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction follows a group of detectives dealing with multiple serious crimes, including a dangerous cop killer, baby kidnapping, and elder mugging. The story is suitable for ages 9-12 but contains themes of crime and danger that may require parental guidance. It offers a gripping introduction to police procedural drama with moderate suspense and intensity.
Why we rated Cop killer 11ME
Cop killer is written at a Level 6 reading level across 247 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Cop killer works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Cop killer as 11ME ("Moderate — 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, social complexity — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.
Thematically, Cop killer explores police, mystery, crime, and adventure — 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 police, mystery, crime.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" 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
- 9780449128053
- Pages
- 247
- Publisher
- Fawcett Books
- Published
- 1986
- Type
- Fiction