Flash
Eric Cyril Williams
Flash
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Eric Cyril Williams
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
Flash darts through the crowded streets, heart pounding as sirens wail behind him. Every step feels like a race against time, but what secret is he carrying that makes him so desperate to escape? Just when it seems like he’s cornered, everything changes in a blink.
Quick Assessment
Flash is a middle-grade fiction novel suitable for ages 9-12 that follows a fast-paced adventure filled with suspense and mystery. The story explores themes of courage and quick thinking, with some moments of mild peril appropriate for this age group. Parents should know the book contains scenes of tension and excitement but no graphic content.
Why we rated Flash 9LP
Flash is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 158 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Flash works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Flash as 9LP ("Light — Physical") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, Flash explores adventure, mystery, and friendship — 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about adventure, mystery, friendship.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LP — Light — PhysicalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A 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
- 0709128681
- Pages
- 158
- Publisher
- Hale
- Published
- 1972
- Type
- Fiction