Flood Disaster
Peg Kehret
Flood Disaster
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Peg Kehret
The text is written at a 4th 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 to one of the most terrifying floods in history? Imagine racing against the rising waters of the Johnstown Flood in 1889 to save a little girl and change the past. But every choice you make could be the difference between life and disaster—can Warren and Betsy beat the clock?
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows Warren and Betsy as they explore the historic Johnstown Flood of 1889 through time travel, blending adventure with historical facts. Suitable for ages 9-12, it balances suspense with educational content while addressing themes of courage and compassion. The story contains mild peril related to natural disaster scenarios but remains appropriate for its target audience.
Why we rated Flood Disaster 9ME
Flood Disaster is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 160 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Flood Disaster works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Flood Disaster as 9ME ("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: Mild Peril.
Thematically, Flood Disaster explores adventure, historical, friendship, family, 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.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about adventure, historical, friendship.
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
9ME — 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
2/10A 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
- 9781416991090
- Pages
- 160
- Publisher
- Aladdin
- Published
- 2008
- Type
- Fiction