Dope
Sax Rohmer
Dope
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Sax Rohmer
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
What if a mysterious detective faced a dark world filled with secrets and danger? Imagine stepping into London in 1919, where a restless city alderman hides more than just worries. When shadows stir and magic lurks, can Red Kerry uncover the truth before it's too late?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Set in 1919 London, 'Dope' is an occult thriller featuring detective Red Kerry as he unravels a suspenseful mystery involving political figures and dark forces. Suitable for teens aged 13-18, the book includes themes of mystery and supernatural elements with mild peril. Parents should note the historical setting and occasional tense moments typical of early 20th-century thrillers.
Why we rated Dope 11MP
Dope is written at a Level 6 reading level across 244 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Dope works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Dope as 11MP ("Moderate — Physical") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from physical peril, thematic difficulty — 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, Dope explores mystery, adventure, historical, occult, and detective fiction — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about mystery, adventure, historical.
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
11MP — Moderate — PhysicalReal 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
3/10A 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
- 9781603121408
- Pages
- 244
- Publisher
- Alan Rodgers Books
- Published
- March 1, 2007
- Type
- Fiction