Darkside (Book 1)

Name: Darkside (Book 1)
Author: Tom Becker
ISBN: 9780545037396

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Tom Becker

Reading Level 6 ME · Moderate · Emotional Ages 11+ Matched

A Junior Library Guild selection

The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for older middle graders (ages 11+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes. Its HootRating code, ME, means moderate content, mostly emotional.

Find on Amazon Listen on Audible

We may earn a commission from these links.

About This Book

What if the city you know hides a secret world where shadows come alive and danger lurks at every corner? Imagine stumbling into Darkside, a hidden London ruled by the sinister descendants of Jack the Ripper. Can Jonathan escape before the darkness claims him forever?

Themes

Adventure Fantasy World-Building Mystery Coming of Age

Quick Assessment

This young adult novel follows Jonathan Starling as he discovers a secret, dangerous underworld beneath London called Darkside. After his home is attacked and his father is institutionalized, Jonathan must navigate this dark realm filled with perilous creatures and threats. Suitable for teens, it contains suspenseful scenes and themes of danger and mystery.

Why we rated Darkside (Book 1) ME (Moderate)

Darkside (Book 1) is written at a Level 6 reading level across 304 pages. Reading-wise, most kids in grade 7 and up can manage Darkside (Book 1) on their own; younger readers can enjoy it with a parent or teacher reading along.

We rate Darkside (Book 1) as ME (Moderate, mostly 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 — 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, Darkside (Book 1) explores adventure, fantasy world-building, mystery, and coming of age — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.

Good fit for

✓ Children in the Ages 11+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about adventure, fantasy world-building, mystery.
✓ Readers (and parents) who care about award-recognized writing — Darkside (Book 1) carries an award.

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

ME · Moderate · Emotional

Emotional

Moderate ←

Physical

Moderate

Social

Gentle

Thematic

Mild

Reading the HootRating code: the first letter is the content intensity (C = Gentle · L = Mild · M = Moderate · I = Intense · V = Very Intense); the second, when there is one, is the kind of content that drives it (E = Emotional · P = Physical · S = Social · T = Thematic). Reading level and age range are rated separately. How we rate

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?