Fight the wind
Elias Carr
Fight the wind
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Elias Carr
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for older middle graders (ages 11+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
Fix, a skilled mechanic, and Cleo, a sharp strategist, face the challenge of uniting their group to survive in a dangerous near-future Iowa. As threats from mysterious armed groups loom, their teamwork and leadership will be tested against all odds. Together, they must navigate peril and protect those depending on them.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 4-5 book with moderate content intensity. Content themes include fantasy violence, physical danger. Written for readers ages 11+.
Why we rated Fight the wind 9MP
Fight the wind is written at a Level 4-5 reading level (approximately 13,264 words). Strong independent readers around grade 5.4 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Fight the wind works for readers up to grade 6.4.
Read aloud, Fight the wind runs about 1.5 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.
We rate Fight the wind as 9MP ("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 — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Fantasy Violence, Physical Danger.
Thematically, Fight the wind explores survival, leadership, cooperativeness, science & nature, and adventure — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 11+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Readers who like a steady plot with enough momentum to keep pages turning.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about survival, leadership, cooperativeness.
- ✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there are 5 more books in the After the Dust Settled series.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9MP — Moderate — PhysicalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Content Flags
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
6/10Engaging read with solid pacing and interesting themes.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780761383314
- Publisher
- Darby Creek
- Published
- 2012
- Type
- Fiction
- Word Count
- 13,264
- Read-Aloud
- ~1h 28m