Pharmacy in the forest
Fred Powledge
Pharmacy in the forest
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Fred Powledge
The text is written at a 8th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.
We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.
About This Book
Explore the hidden world of healing plants growing wild in nature, discovering how they are located and studied to unlock their powerful medical secrets. Journey through forests and fields to learn about the natural sources of medicine and the science behind their use.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 8 book with gentle content intensity. It's a Sweet Spot read — challenging text with gentle themes, ideal for advanced or 2e readers. No notable content concerns flagged. Written for readers ages 13+.
Why we rated Pharmacy in the forest 12C
Pharmacy in the forest is written at a Level 8 reading level across 47 pages (approximately 9,789 words). Strong independent readers around grade 9.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Pharmacy in the forest works for readers up to grade 10.0.
Read aloud, Pharmacy in the forest runs about 1.1 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.
We rate Pharmacy in the forest as 12C ("Clear") 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, Pharmacy in the forest explores science & nature, adventure, and medicinal plants — 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about science & nature, adventure, medicinal plants.
- ✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12C — ClearNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
4/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
Plants As Food, Fuel, and Medicine
Julie K. Lundgren
Plants As Food, Fuel, and Medicine
Julie K. Lundgren
The origins & sources of drugs
Alan Theodore
The origins & sources of drugs
Alan Theodore
Ethnobotany
Kim J. Young
Ethnobotany
Kim J. Young
Forest and garden
William White
Forest and garden
William White
The Forest
Dawn Adams, Western Education Development Group
The Forest
Dawn Adams, Western Education Development Group
Herbal Remedies
Andrew Chevallier
Herbal Remedies
Andrew Chevallier
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0689808631
- Pages
- 47
- Publisher
- Atheneum Books for Young Readers
- Published
- 1998
- Type
- Nonfiction
- Word Count
- 9,789
- Read-Aloud
- ~1h 5m
- Text Density
- Standard