Find the Feathered Serpent
Evan Hunter
Find the Feathered Serpent
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Evan Hunter
The text is written at a 6th 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
The warm breeze carries the scent of ancient jungle leaves and distant drums as a mysterious hum vibrates through the air. Suddenly, a shimmering time machine whirs to life, whisking a brave 16-year-old and his friend back over a thousand years to the heart of the Yucatan. Amid towering temples and shadowy forests, the secrets of Kukulcan await, stirring excitement and a touch of wonder deep in their hearts.
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade science fiction adventure follows a 16-year-old and his companion as they travel through time to explore the ancient Yucatan civilization and uncover the origins of the Maya god Kukulcan. Suitable for ages 9-12, the book combines historical elements with imaginative storytelling, providing an engaging introduction to Mayan culture. Parents should note the story includes some cultural and historical references but contains no intense content.
Why we rated Find the Feathered Serpent 11LT
Find the Feathered Serpent is written at a Level 6 reading level across 207 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Find the Feathered Serpent works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Find the Feathered Serpent as 11LT ("Light — Thematic") 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, Find the Feathered Serpent explores adventure, science & nature, historical, and fantasy world-building — 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 adventure, science & nature, historical.
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
11LT — Light — ThematicNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0839825196
- Pages
- 207
- Publisher
- Gregg Press
- Published
- 1979
- Type
- Fiction