Desert between the mountains
Michael S. Durham
Desert between the mountains
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Mormons, Miners, Padres, Mountain Men, and the Opening of the Great Basin, 1772-1869
by Michael S. Durham
The text is written at a 7th 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 would you do if you had to find a new home in a vast, strange desert surrounded by towering mountains? Imagine traveling with the Mormon pioneers as they explore the Salt Lake Valley, meeting trappers, Native tribes, and soldiers along the way. Will they find a place to settle or face challenges they never expected?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This historical fiction novel follows the Mormon pioneers' journey to settle in the Great Basin's Salt Lake Valley in 1847. It explores their interactions with diverse groups such as Native American tribes, Spanish ecclesiastics, and fur trappers, while highlighting the unique landscape of the region. Suitable for middle grade readers ages 9-12, the book offers educational insight into frontier life with no intense content concerns.
Why we rated Desert between the mountains 12LT
Desert between the mountains is written at a Level 7 reading level across 336 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Desert between the mountains works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Desert between the mountains as 12LT ("Light — Thematic") 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, Desert between the mountains explores historical, adventure, frontier and pioneer life, and multicultural — 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 historical, adventure, frontier and pioneer life.
- ✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.
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
12LT — Light — ThematicLight 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
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0805041613
- Pages
- 336
- Publisher
- Macmillan
- Published
- 1997
- Type
- Nonfiction