Kanis the shadow hound
Adam Blade
Kanis the shadow hound
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Adam Blade
Illustrated by Sims, Steve (Steve P.), 1980- illustrator
The text is written at a 4th 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
Tom and Elenna sprint through the dark forest, shadows twisting around them. Suddenly, a monstrous shadow hound lunges from the darkness—its glowing eyes fixed on them. Can they defeat this terrifying beast before it’s too late?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fantasy adventure follows Tom and Elenna as they face magical beasts and a wicked witch threatening their world. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story contains exciting battles and mild peril but no graphic content. Themes include bravery, friendship, and good versus evil, making it an engaging read for young fans of fantasy and adventure.
Why we rated Kanis the shadow hound 9LP
Kanis the shadow hound is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 131 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Kanis the shadow hound works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Kanis the shadow hound as 9LP ("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.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, Kanis the shadow hound explores adventure, fantasy world-building, heroes, monsters, and witches — 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 adventure, fantasy world-building, heroes.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LP — Light — PhysicalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
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
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781408339947
- Pages
- 131
- Publisher
- Orchard Books
- Published
- 2015
- Type
- Fiction