What reading level is Discovering Mission San Diego de Alcala?

Discovering Mission San Diego de Alcala by Sam Hamilton is at a Level 7-8 reading level. Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Discovering Mission San Diego de Alcala appropriate for?

Discovering Mission San Diego de Alcala is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 12C (Clear).

What genre is Discovering Mission San Diego de Alcala?

Discovering Mission San Diego de Alcala is nonfiction — Juvenile Nonfiction. Part of the California Missions (Cavendish Square) series.

Does Discovering Mission San Diego de Alcala have any content warnings?

Discovering Mission San Diego de Alcala has a HootRating of 12C (Clear). No specific content flags noted. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Discovering Mission San Diego de Alcala?

Discovering Mission San Diego de Alcala by Sam Hamilton is 48 pages (approximately 5,799 words).

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

Discovering Mission San Diego de Alcala

Sam Hamilton

Discovering Mission San Diego de Alcala

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Sam Hamilton

California Missions (Cavendish Square)

Reading Level 7-8 12C Ages 9-12 Sweet Spot Page-Turner

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 gentle with no concerning themes.

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About This Book

Step back in time to explore the fascinating story of Mission San Diego de Alcalá, uncovering the lives of the Kamia Indians and the Spanish settlers who built the mission. Discover how this historic place came to be and the lasting impact it has on the community today. Adventure and history blend together in this captivating journey through the past.

Themes

HistoryMulticulturalJuvenile literatureAdventure Family

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 7-8 book with gentle content intensity. It's a Sweet Spot read — challenging text with gentle themes, ideal for advanced or 2e readers. No notable content concerns flagged. Written for readers ages 9-12.

Why we rated Discovering Mission San Diego de Alcala 12C

Discovering Mission San Diego de Alcala is written at a Level 7-8 reading level across 48 pages (approximately 5,799 words). Strong independent readers around grade 8.2 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Discovering Mission San Diego de Alcala works for readers up to grade 9.2.

Read aloud, Discovering Mission San Diego de Alcala takes about 39 minutes, which fits within a single read-aloud session.

We rate Discovering Mission San Diego de Alcala as 12C ("Clear") because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.

No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.

Thematically, Discovering Mission San Diego de Alcala explores history, multicultural, juvenile literature, adventure, and family — 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.
✓ Reluctant readers who need fast-paced, hook-heavy stories to stay engaged.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about history, multicultural, juvenile literature.
✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there are 16 more books in the California Missions (Cavendish Square) series.
✓ 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.