Josephine Against the Sea
Shakirah Bourne
Josephine Against the Sea
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Shakirah Bourne
The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
What if your favorite game was the only way to keep your family together? Imagine Josephine, the mischievous girl from Barbados, fighting not just for a spot on the cricket team but to protect her dad from a magical sea creature! Can she outsmart a vengeful spirit before she loses everything she loves?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Josephine Against the Sea is a middle-grade novel blending Caribbean mythology with themes of family and friendship. The story explores an eleven-year-old girl's struggle to protect her relationship with her father while confronting magical challenges. Suitable for ages 9-12, it includes mild fantasy peril and themes of loyalty and courage.
Why we rated Josephine Against the Sea 12LP
Josephine Against the Sea is written at a Level 7 reading level across 304 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Josephine Against the Sea works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Josephine Against the Sea as 12LP ("Light — Physical") 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.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mild Peril, Fantasy Violence.
Thematically, Josephine Against the Sea explores family, adventure, caribbean & latin american, myths, and friendship — 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 family, adventure, caribbean & latin american.
Maybe not for
- ! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12LP — Light — PhysicalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Content Flags
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
- 9781338642087
- Pages
- 304
- Publisher
- Scholastic Incorporated
- Published
- Jul 06, 2021
- Type
- Fiction