Kipton and the android
Fontenay, Charles L.
Kipton and the android
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Fontenay, Charles L.
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
What would you do if a robot broke all the rules and did something no one thought possible—like hurting its creator? Kipton faces this impossible mystery, trying to solve a puzzle that challenges everything she knows about robots and right and wrong. But as she digs deeper, the clues start to bloom like secret messages in flowers, leading her into a world full of questions with no easy answers.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade science fiction mystery follows Kipton as she investigates an android that has killed its creator, defying its own programming. The story explores complex themes such as logic, philosophy, and ethical dilemmas, wrapped in an engaging detective narrative suitable for readers around ages 9 to 12. Parents should note the presence of murder as a central plot element, but it is treated with thoughtful depth rather than graphic detail.
Why we rated Kipton and the android 9IT
Kipton and the android is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 185 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Kipton and the android works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Kipton and the android as 9IT ("Intense — Thematic") 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, 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, Kipton and the android explores robots, mystery, science & nature, philosophy, and adventure — 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about robots, mystery, science & nature.
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
9IT — Intense — ThematicReal 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
3/10A 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
- 0880923830
- Pages
- 185
- Publisher
- Royal Fireworks Publishing Company
- Published
- 1997
- Type
- Fiction