Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated
High Tide in Hawaii
Mary Pope Osborne
The text is written at a 3rd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for younger children (ages 5–8), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material. Its HootRating code, LE, means mild content, mostly emotional.
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About This Book
Here's a secret: Jack and Annie's Magic Tree House can take them to a Hawaiian island from long ago, where the waves are perfect for surfing and adventures await at every turn. But when a giant tsunami threatens the island, their adventure takes a surprising twist—and that's only the beginning.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This early reader book follows siblings Jack and Annie as they travel through time to ancient Hawaii via their Magic Tree House. Along the way, children learn about surfing, island life, and natural events like tsunamis in an age-appropriate way. Suitable for ages 5-8, this story combines adventure with gentle lessons about nature and friendship.
Why we rated High Tide in Hawaii LE (Mild)
High Tide in Hawaii is written at a Level 3-4 reading level across 73 pages. Reading-wise, most kids in grade 4 and up can manage High Tide in Hawaii on their own; younger readers can enjoy it with a parent or teacher reading along.
We rate High Tide in Hawaii as LE (Mild, mostly 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, High Tide in Hawaii explores time travel, magic, brothers and sisters, tree houses, and adventure — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 5-8 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about time travel, magic, brothers and sisters.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
LE · Mild · EmotionalReading the HootRating code: the first letter is the content intensity (C = Gentle · L = Mild · M = Moderate · I = Intense · V = Very Intense); the second, when there is one, is the kind of content that drives it (E = Emotional · P = Physical · S = Social · T = Thematic). Reading level and age range are rated separately. How we rate
Light conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780439651837
- Pages
- 73
- Publisher
- Random House
- Published
- 2003
- Type
- Fiction