Elephant run
Roland Smith
Elephant run
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Roland Smith
The text is written at a 7th 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 home was taken over and your family was captured? Nick faces danger and adventure deep in the jungles of Burma during World War II. With only trusty elephants and his brave friend Mya, can they save their loved ones and escape the enemy?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Set during World War II in Burma, this middle-grade novel follows Nick as he endures harsh conditions under Japanese occupation and plans a risky escape to rescue his father and Mya's brother. The story contains themes of war, captivity, and bravery, appropriate for ages 9-12, with some depictions of violence and peril suited to mature middle-grade readers.
Why we rated Elephant run 12ME
Elephant run is written at a Level 7 reading level across 318 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Elephant run works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Elephant run as 12ME ("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, Elephant run explores prisoners of war, adventure, friendship, family, and world war ii — 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 prisoners of war, adventure, friendship.
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
12ME — 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
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780545105668
- Pages
- 318
- Publisher
- Scholastic
- Published
- 2008
- Type
- Fiction