Flight #116 is down
Caroline B. Cooney
Flight #116 is down
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Caroline B. Cooney
The text is written at a 5th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
When a plane crashes near her home, Heidi Landseth rushes to aid the survivors, stepping into a world of unexpected danger and courage. This gripping tale follows her journey as she faces challenges that test her strength and reshape her future.
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 5-6 book with moderate content intensity. Content themes include physical danger, emotional: fear & anxiety, emotional: loss & grief. Written for readers ages 13+.
Why we rated Flight #116 is down 10ME
Flight #116 is down is written at a Level 5-6 reading level across 201 pages (approximately 45,719 words). Strong independent readers around grade 6.1 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Flight #116 is down works for readers up to grade 7.1.
Read aloud, Flight #116 is down runs about 5.1 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.
We rate Flight #116 is down as 10ME ("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.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Physical Danger, Emotional: Fear & Anxiety, Emotional: Loss & Grief.
Thematically, Flight #116 is down explores adventure, coming of age, and family — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about adventure, coming of age, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Children currently coping with grief — the themes may hit close to home.
For Parents
Content Intensity
10ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal 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
3/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0590444654
- Pages
- 201
- Publisher
- Scholastic
- Published
- 1992
- Type
- Fiction
- Word Count
- 45,719
- Read-Aloud
- ~5h 5m
- Text Density
- Standard