Maddigan's Fantasia
Margaret Mahy
Maddigan's Fantasia
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Margaret Mahy
The text is written at a 8th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
Garland clutches the crumbling map as shadows close in—Road Rats are on their trail, and the city's fate hangs by a thread. Suddenly, two boys burst from the mist, claiming they’ve traveled through time to save Maddigan’s Fantasia. But can Garland trust them when danger lurks at every turn?
Quick Assessment
Maddigan's Fantasia follows twelve-year-old Garland Maddigan and her family's traveling circus in a post-apocalyptic world as they embark on a perilous mission to save their city’s only power source. The story introduces elements of time travel, loss, and adventure suitable for middle to high school readers, with some scenes of peril and family tragedy handled thoughtfully. Parents should note the themes of danger and death are present but balanced by strong messages of courage and hope.
Why we rated Maddigan's Fantasia 12ME
Maddigan's Fantasia is written at a Level 8 reading level across 512 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 9.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Maddigan's Fantasia works for readers up to grade 10.0.
We rate Maddigan's Fantasia as 12ME ("Moderate — 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.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.
Thematically, Maddigan's Fantasia explores adventure, family, time travel, and performing arts — 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.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about adventure, family, time travel.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal 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
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
- 9781416918127
- Pages
- 512
- Publisher
- Simon and Schuster
- Published
- October 9, 2007
- Type
- Fiction