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Crime Through Time #5: Iced!

Bill Doyle

Cover of Crime Through Time #5: Iced!

Crime Through Time #5: Iced!

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

The 2007 Journal of Nick Fitzmorgan

by Bill Doyle

Reading Level 4-5 9LE Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 4th 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

There’s a secret hidden in a strange message and a dash of blood on an MP3 player. Fourteen-year-old Nick Fitzmorgan’s dad has vanished without a trace, and the clues point to a faraway place—Mount Everest. But that’s only the beginning.

Themes

Juvenile MysteriesAdventureHistoricalFamilyProblem-Solving

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade mystery follows 14-year-old Nick Fitzmorgan as he uses clever clues left by his missing father to embark on an adventurous investigation that spans from home to Mount Everest. Suitable for readers ages 9-12, the story includes themes of family, problem-solving, and historical settings without intense content. Parents should note some mild peril and suspense typical of juvenile mystery genres.

Why we rated Crime Through Time #5: Iced! 9LE

Crime Through Time #5: Iced! is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 144 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Crime Through Time #5: Iced! works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate Crime Through Time #5: Iced! as 9LE ("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, Crime Through Time #5: Iced! explores juvenile mysteries, adventure, historical, family, and problem-solving — 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 juvenile mysteries, adventure, historical.

Maybe not for

  • ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.

For Parents

Content Intensity

9LE — Light — Emotional
Emotional
Light
Physical
Light
Social
Clear
Thematic
Light

Light conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.

Data confidence: standard

Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

2/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

3/10

A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
4
Emotional Weight
4
Theme Richness
5
World Scope
7
Data Confidence
7

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Details

Book Length

144 pages
ISBN
9780316057530
Pages
144
Publisher
Little Brown & Company
Published
September 6, 2006
Type
Fiction

Genres

Subjects

Action & AdventureHistoricalLaw & CrimeMysteries, Espionage, & Detective StoriesMountaineeringMystery and Detective StoriesCode and Cipher StoriesDanceEgyptUnited States

Places

Everest, Mount (China and Nepal)AsiaMount Everest