Flashman in the great game
George MacDonald Fraser
Flashman in the great game
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by George MacDonald Fraser
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 if you could travel back in time and find yourself caught in secret missions and wild adventures across faraway lands? Imagine being part of daring battles and sneaky plots while trying to stay one step ahead of danger. But can you survive the twists and turns of the great game without getting caught?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This historical fiction novel follows the adventures of Harry Flashman, a roguish soldier navigating political intrigue and military conflicts in 19th-century British India and Scotland. Suitable for middle-grade readers, it offers an exciting mix of history and action, though some themes of war and deception are present. Parents should note the complex vocabulary and mature historical context woven throughout the story.
Why we rated Flashman in the great game 12MP
Flashman in the great game is written at a Level 7 reading level across 340 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Flashman in the great game works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Flashman in the great game as 12MP ("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, Flashman in the great game explores adventure, historical, military, 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.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about adventure, historical, military.
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
12MP — 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
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
- 0394498933
- Pages
- 340
- Publisher
- Knopf : distributed by Random House
- Published
- 1975
- Type
- Fiction