Ollie and the New Moon
Carl Derham
Ollie and the New Moon
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Carl Derham
The text is written at a 6th 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
Ollie isn’t just any teenager—he’s the drummer who gets picked to Captain the most powerful ship in the galaxy! From surfing and clubbing in his own world to battling evil Throgloids in space, his wild adventure will change everything. Saving the world has never been this fun or this risky!
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade science fiction novel follows Ollie, a fun-loving teenager who embarks on a galactic adventure after mysteriously disappearing during a trip to the pyramids. Alongside his friends, he faces cosmic threats including an asteroid collision and alien villains, promoting themes of friendship, bravery, and self-confidence. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story contains mild sci-fi peril but remains appropriate for this age group.
Why we rated Ollie and the New Moon 11LP
Ollie and the New Moon is written at a Level 6 reading level across 233 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Ollie and the New Moon works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Ollie and the New Moon as 11LP ("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, Ollie and the New Moon explores adventure, friendship, science & nature, and fantasy world-building — 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, friendship, science & nature.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11LP — 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
- 9781849633284
- Pages
- 233
- Publisher
- Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd.
- Published
- 2013
- Type
- Fiction