Hugh Glass, mountain man

Robert M. McClung

Hugh Glass, mountain man

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

Left for Dead

by Robert M. McClung

Reading Level 4-5 9ME Ages 9-12 Matched

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

The sharp crack of a bear's roar echoes through the dense forest, and the air is thick with the scent of pine and danger. Hugh Glass, a rugged mountain man, faces the wild frontier alone after a fierce grizzly attack. His story is one of courage, survival, and the unbreakable spirit of the wilderness.

Themes

SurvivalFrontier and pioneer lifeAdventure Historical

Quick Assessment

This fictionalized biography tells the story of Hugh Glass, a legendary mountain man and fur trapper in the early 19th century American West. It explores themes of survival and frontier life suitable for middle-grade readers, with vivid descriptions of wilderness challenges. Parents should note the depiction of animal attack and survival situations, which are handled in an age-appropriate manner for readers aged 9-12.

Why we rated Hugh Glass, mountain man 9ME

Hugh Glass, mountain man is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 166 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Hugh Glass, mountain man works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate Hugh Glass, mountain man 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.

No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.

Thematically, Hugh Glass, mountain man explores survival, frontier and pioneer life, adventure, and historical — 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 survival, frontier and pioneer life, adventure.

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 — Emotional

Emotional

Moderate ←

Physical

Moderate

Social

Clear

Thematic

Light

Real stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.

Data confidence: standard

Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

2/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

3/10

A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level

Emotional Weight

Theme Richness

World Scope

Data Confidence

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Hugh Glass, mountain man

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