Hickok's Gold
Joseph Kropp
Hickok's Gold
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Joseph Kropp
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
Wild Bill Hickok isn’t just a legend—he’s the spark that lights up a family’s wild South Dakota adventure. Between gold mining and daring escapes from curious bears and runaway horses, every night brings a new tale that makes history come alive. This isn’t just a vacation; it’s a journey where stories and reality collide in the most exciting way.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Hickok's Gold follows the Kaye family on a South Dakota camping trip filled with outdoor adventures and historical storytelling. The book blends themes of family bonding, nature, and American history suitable for middle school to high school readers. It presents mild peril through encounters with wildlife and adventurous scenarios, making it an engaging and age-appropriate read for teens interested in historical fiction with a touch of outdoor excitement.
Why we rated Hickok's Gold 11LE
Hickok's Gold is written at a Level 6 reading level across 208 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Hickok's Gold works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Hickok's Gold 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, Hickok's Gold explores family, historical, adventure, and nature — 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.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about family, historical, adventure.
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
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781890905255
- Pages
- 208
- Publisher
- Day to Day Enterprises
- Published
- January 1, 2007
- Type
- Fiction