Red Harvest
Dashiell Hammett
Red Harvest
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Dashiell Hammett
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
Gunshots echo through the dark streets of Poisonville as the Continental Op races against time to catch a dangerous killer. The last honest citizen has been murdered, and chaos spreads like wildfire. But can he stop the corruption before it’s too late?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This classic mystery novel follows the Continental Op as he investigates a murder in a town riddled with corruption and violence. Suitable for middle-grade readers, the story presents complex themes of crime and justice with some intense scenes of peril. Parents should note the book’s depiction of violence and mature themes related to crime.
Why we rated Red Harvest 11ME
Red Harvest is written at a Level 6 reading level across 209 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Red Harvest works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Red Harvest as 11ME ("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, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Violence, Mild Peril.
Thematically, Red Harvest explores mystery, detective, crime, corruption, and justice — 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 mystery, detective, crime.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Content Flags
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
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781883402952
- Pages
- 209
- Publisher
- Holiday House
- Published
- February 28, 2006
- Type
- Fiction