Power play
Beth McMullen
Power play
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Beth McMullen
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
The sharp buzz of a video game fills the air, mixing with whispers of a daring kidnapping that no one saw coming. Abby and her friends are swept into a whirlwind of secret messages, shadowy hackers, and thrilling chases across London’s streets. As the stakes rise, they realize that friendship and teamwork might be the most powerful tools they have.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade spy adventure follows Abby and her friends as they embark on their first official mission for the Center, unraveling a kidnapping connected to a popular video game. The story blends mystery, action, and themes of friendship, teamwork, and courage, appropriate for ages 9 to 12. Parents should note the plot involves suspenseful moments and mild peril typical of spy stories but no graphic content.
Why we rated Power play 11LE
Power play is written at a Level 6 reading level across 277 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Power play works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Power play as 11LE ("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, Power play explores adventure, friendship, mystery, schools, and spy stories — 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 adventure, friendship, mystery.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A 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
- 9781481490238
- Pages
- 277
- Publisher
- Aladdin
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction