Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated
In the time of Dragon Moon
Janet Lee Carey
In the time of Dragon Moon
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Janet Lee Carey
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes. Its HootRating code, ME, means moderate content, mostly emotional.
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About This Book
The sharp scent of pine and ocean salt fills the air as Uma tends to the wounded beneath the towering trees of Wilde Island. Suddenly, a chilling decree from the English queen threatens to change everything, forcing Uma into a dangerous quest where every heartbeat echoes with fear. Beside her stands Pendragon, a prince with wings of dragon and fairy, hiding a secret that could save or doom them both.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Uma, a half Euit healer, is kidnapped by a cruel English queen who demands a cure for her barrenness, and after Uma's father dies she faces execution unless she can meet the deadline. She teams up with Jackrun, a dragonrider with dragon, fairy, and human blood, to uncover a dark plot rooted in the past. Expect threats of execution, kidnapping, a parent's death, and political intrigue, handled with a focus on identity and acceptance rather than graphic violence.
Why we rated In the time of Dragon Moon ME (Moderate)
In the time of Dragon Moon is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 472 pages. Upper Grades (Ages 13+) is the typical interest range for this book — readers in that age band have the maturity and attention span suited to the story, separate from whether they can decode the words.
We rate In the time of Dragon Moon as ME (Moderate, mostly 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.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mild Peril, Kidnapping.
Thematically, In the time of Dragon Moon explores fantasy world-building, adventure, friendship, cultural identity, and family — 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about fantasy world-building, adventure, friendship.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
For Parents
Content Intensity
ME · Moderate · 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
Real stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Content Flags
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Discussion Potential
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780803738102
- Pages
- 472
- Publisher
- Kathy Dawson Books
- Published
- 2015
- Type
- Fiction