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Passport to Danger

Franklin W. Dixon

Cover of Passport to Danger

Passport to Danger

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

Hardy Boys #179

by Franklin W. Dixon

Reading Level 4-5 9LE Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

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

What if a secret enemy was plotting against the city of Paris — and you were caught right in the middle? Suddenly, danger lurks behind every corner, and the Hardy siblings must unravel the mystery before it's too late. Can they uncover the truth before the city falls into chaos?

Quick Assessment

Passport to Danger follows the Hardy siblings as they navigate a thrilling mystery set in Paris, involving crime and unexpected threats. Suitable for children aged 9-12, this middle-grade fiction combines suspense with problem-solving without graphic content, making it an engaging yet age-appropriate read. Parents should note the book involves themes of danger and crime typical of juvenile mystery genres.

Why we rated Passport to Danger 9LE

Passport to Danger is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 160 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Passport to Danger works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate Passport to Danger as 9LE ("Light — Emotional") 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, Passport to Danger explores mystery, adventure, crime & mystery, friendship, and family — 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 mystery, adventure, crime & mystery.

Maybe not for

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

For Parents

Content Intensity

9LE — Light — Emotional
Emotional
Light
Physical
Light
Social
Clear
Thematic
Light

Light conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.

Data confidence: standard

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

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

3/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

2/10

A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
4
Emotional Weight
4
Theme Richness
5
World Scope
3
Data Confidence
7

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Details

Book Length

160 pages
ISBN
9780689857799
Pages
160
Publisher
Simon and Schuster
Published
June 1, 2003
Type
Fiction

Genres

Subjects

Crime & MysterySoccerMysteries, Espionage, & Detective StoriesAction & AdventureBoysMenMysteries & Detective StoriesMystery and Detective StoriesParisHardy Boys

Places

Paris (France)