Corner of White
Jaclyn Moriarty
Corner of White
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Book 1 of the Colors of Madeleine
by Jaclyn Moriarty
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 gentle with no concerning themes.
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About This Book
"[A] fantasy series opener unlike anything else out there . . . Quirky, charming, funny, sad: another winner from this always-surprising author." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review) A Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book A Kirkus Best Book of the Year A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year A Horn Book Fanfare Book This is a tale of missing persons. Madeleine and her mother have run away from their former life, under mysterious circumstances, and settled in a rainy corner of Cambridge (in our world). Elliot, on the other hand, is in search of his father, who disappeared on the night his uncle was found dead. The talk in the town of Bonfire (in the Kingdom of Cello) is that Elliot's dad may have killed his brother and run away with the Physics teacher. But Elliot refuses to believe it. And he is determined to find both his dad and the truth. As Madeleine and Elliot move closer to unraveling their mysteries, they begin to exchange messages across worlds—through an accidental gap that hasn't appeared in centuries. But even greater mysteries are unfolding on both sides of the gap: dangerous weather phenomena called "color storms"; a strange fascination with Isaac Newton; the myth of the "Butterfly Child," whose appearance could end the droughts of Cello; and some unexpected kisses . . . "Startlingly original fantasy." —E. Lockhart, #1 New York Times–bestselling author "A marvelous novel—in every sense of the word." —Deborah Harkness, #1 New York Times–bestselling author "[A] genre-blending feat of stylistic energy." — The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (starred review) "Moriarty's marvelously original fantasy is quirky and clever." — Booklist
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 7 book. No notable content concerns flagged. Written for readers ages 9-12.
Why we rated Corner of White Level 0
Corner of White is written at a Level 7 reading level across 384 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Corner of White works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Corner of White as Unrated because the content sits in the "Unrated" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the unrated intensity score.
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.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
Level 0 — UnratedThis book has not yet been rated for content intensity.
Was our "Unrated" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780545510219
- Pages
- 384
- Publisher
- Scholastic Inc.
- Published
- 2013
- Type
- Fiction