Life on the ice

Name: Life on the ice
Author: Susan E. Goodman
ISBN: 0761327754

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Susan E. Goodman

Reading Level 5-6 C · Gentle Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 5th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes. Its HootRating code, C, means gentle content.

Find on Amazon Listen on Audible

We may earn a commission from these links.

About This Book

Discover the wonders of Earth's coldest places, where the air is so icy that hot water freezes mid-air and refrigerators need warming to keep food fresh. Journey through the North and South Poles, exploring the unique challenges and amazing sights of these frozen frontiers. Packed with stunning photos and cool facts, this adventure brings the polar regions to life for curious young explorers.

Themes

Science & Nature AdventureExplorationEnvironmental Awareness

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 5-6 book with gentle content intensity. No notable content concerns flagged. Written for readers ages 9-12.

Why we rated Life on the ice C (Gentle)

Life on the ice is written at a Level 5-6 reading level across 32 pages (approximately 1,946 words). Reading-wise, most kids in grade 6 and up can manage Life on the ice on their own; younger readers can enjoy it with a parent or teacher reading along.

Read aloud, Life on the ice takes about 13 minutes, which fits within a single read-aloud session.

We rate Life on the ice as C (Gentle) because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.

No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.

Thematically, Life on the ice explores science & nature, adventure, exploration, and environmental awareness — 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.
✓ Readers who like a steady plot with enough momentum to keep pages turning.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about science & nature, adventure, exploration.
✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.

Maybe not for

! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.

For Parents

Content Intensity

C · Gentle

Emotional

Gentle

Physical

Gentle

Social

Gentle

Thematic

Gentle

Reading 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

No conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.

Data confidence: standard

Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?