Icecore
Matt Whyman
Icecore
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Carl Hobbes Thriller
by Matt Whyman
The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
Here’s a secret: Carl Hobbes isn’t just any teenager—he’s a computer genius who just hacked one of the most secure places in the world. Now, trapped in a secret Arctic base called Icecore, he has only 48 hours to outsmart the military and win back his freedom. But that’s only the beginning.
Quick Assessment
Icecore is a fast-paced thriller following 17-year-old hacker Carl Hobbes, who is detained by the U.S. government after breaching Fort Knox's security. Set in a high-stakes Arctic military base, the story explores themes of survival, technology, and crime. Suitable for teens 13 and older, the book includes suspenseful situations and mild peril but avoids explicit content.
Why we rated Icecore 12MP
Icecore is written at a Level 7 reading level across 320 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Icecore works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Icecore as 12MP ("Moderate — Physical") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from physical peril, thematic difficulty — 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, Icecore explores adventure, survival, suspense/thriller, law & crime, and science & technology — 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 adventure, survival, suspense/thriller.
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
12MP — Moderate — PhysicalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
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
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781416949077
- Pages
- 320
- Publisher
- Simon and Schuster
- Published
- November 6, 2007
- Type
- Fiction