Dark Side of the Moon
Jeramey Kraatz
Dark Side of the Moon
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Jeramey Kraatz
The text is written at a 8th 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
What if the safety of Earth depended on trusting a stranger? Benny Love and his Moon Platoon friends race across the stars to find Elijah West's missing research partner. But can they really count on him to help stop the next alien attack?
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade science fiction novel follows Benny Love and his friends as they confront the ongoing threat of alien invaders. The story explores themes of trust and teamwork while delivering exciting, age-appropriate adventure suitable for readers aged 9 to 12. Parents should note the presence of mild peril related to alien threats, handled in a way that encourages problem-solving and courage.
Why we rated Dark Side of the Moon 12LE
Dark Side of the Moon is written at a Level 8 reading level across 448 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 9.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Dark Side of the Moon works for readers up to grade 10.0.
We rate Dark Side of the Moon 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, Dark Side of the Moon explores adventure, science & nature, friendship, and fantasy world-building — 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 adventure, science & nature, friendship.
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
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780008226435
- Pages
- 448
- Publisher
- HarperCollins Children's Books
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction