Goblins on the prowl
Bruce Coville
Goblins on the prowl
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Bruce Coville
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 mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
The crunch of dry leaves and the whisper of magic fill the air as a stone toad suddenly springs to life! Fauna’s heart races when the toad grabs her friend William and leaps away into a wild world of giants, talking bears, and sneaky goblins. Can her courage and magic bring him back before it’s too late?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fantasy follows Fauna as she embarks on a thrilling adventure to rescue her friend William, who is taken by a magically animated stone toad. The story features themes of friendship, bravery, and problem-solving amid encounters with mythical creatures like giants and goblins. Suitable for ages 9-12, it contains mild fantasy peril appropriate for this age group.
Why we rated Goblins on the prowl 11LE
Goblins on the prowl is written at a Level 6 reading level across 260 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Goblins on the prowl works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Goblins on the prowl as 11LE ("Light — Emotional") 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, Goblins on the prowl explores fantasy, adventure, magic, friendship, and juvenile fiction — 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 fantasy, adventure, magic.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" 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
- 9781416914402
- Pages
- 260
- Publisher
- Simon and Schuster
- Published
- 2015
- Type
- Fiction