Death of a King
Andrew H. Vanderwal
Death of a King
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Andrew H. Vanderwal
The text is written at a 6th 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 would you do if your parents vanished without a trace during one of the most chaotic times in history? Twelve-year-old Alex dives into a Scotland torn by battles and secrets, desperate to uncover the truth. But with danger lurking at every turn, will he find them before it's too late?
Quick Assessment
Set in late 13th-century Scotland during a time of political upheaval, this historical adventure follows a twelve-year-old boy named Alex as he searches for his missing parents. The novel blends historical events with adventure and suspense, suitable for middle-grade readers ages 9-12. Parents should note the presence of battle scenes and some bloodshed, though these are balanced with humor and intrigue.
Why we rated Death of a King 11ME
Death of a King is written at a Level 6 reading level across 290 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Death of a King works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Death of a King as 11ME ("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 — 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, Death of a King explores adventure, historical, family, and friendship — 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.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about adventure, historical, family.
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
11ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781770493988
- Pages
- 290
- Publisher
- Tundra Books
- Published
- 2013
- Type
- Fiction