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Dark passage.#9

Paul McCusker

Cover of Dark passage.#9

Dark passage.#9

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Paul McCusker

Reading Level 4-5 9ME Ages 9-12 Matched

The text is written at a 4th 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 if you could travel back in time and walk through history yourself? Imagine stepping into a secret station that zaps you to a world where slavery is real and brave people risk everything to be free. Can two eleven-year-old boys help others escape danger without getting caught themselves?

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade historical fiction follows two boys who use a mysterious time-travel device to explore the era of slavery and the Underground Railroad. The story introduces young readers to important themes of courage, freedom, and the harsh realities of the pre-Civil War United States in an age-appropriate way. Suitable for ages 9-12, it offers educational content with some tense moments related to slave catchers and escape attempts.

Why we rated Dark passage.#9 9ME

Dark passage.#9 is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 112 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Dark passage.#9 works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate Dark passage.#9 as 9ME ("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, Dark passage.#9 explores adventure, historical, friendship, family, and social justice — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers. Each of these themes is concrete enough to seed a real conversation, not just a moral lesson.

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.
  • Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
  • Kids drawn to stories about adventure, historical, friendship.

Maybe not for

  • ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
  • ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.

For Parents

Content Intensity

9ME — Moderate — Emotional
Emotional
Moderate
Physical
Moderate
Social
Moderate
Thematic
Light

Real stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.

Data confidence: standard

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

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

2/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

5/10

Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
4
Emotional Weight
6
Theme Richness
5
World Scope
1
Data Confidence
7

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Details

Book Length

112 pages
ISBN
9781561794744
Pages
112
Publisher
Tommy Nelson
Published
1996
Type
Fiction

Genres

Subjects

Fugitive SlavesSlaveryTime TravelUnderground Railroad