Redshirts: A Novel with Three Codas

John Scalzi

Cover of Redshirts: A Novel with Three Codas

Redshirts: A Novel with Three Codas

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

A Novel with Three Codas

by John Scalzi

Reading Level 7 12ME Ages 13+ Balanced Read

The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.

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About This Book

Some crew members on the starship Intrepid seem doomed every time they go on an Away Mission, but the senior officers never get hurt. What if being part of the crew means you’re just a redshirt—doomed to die? When Ensign Andrew Dahl uncovers a shocking secret about the ship, everything changes, and suddenly survival feels like the ultimate mission.

Quick Assessment

Redshirts follows Ensign Andrew Dahl, a young crew member on a prestigious starship where low-ranking officers often face deadly situations on missions. The story explores themes of survival and fate with some sci-fi action and mild peril, making it suitable for teens 13 and older. The novel includes intense moments but no graphic content, and its clever take on sci-fi tropes encourages critical thinking.

For Parents

Content Intensity

12ME — Moderate — Emotional
Emotional
Moderate
Physical
Moderate
Social
Clear
Thematic
Moderate

Real stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.

Data confidence: standard

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

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

2/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

3/10

A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
6
Emotional Weight
6
Theme Richness
4
World Scope
10
Data Confidence
7

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Details

Book Length

320 pages
ISBN
9780765334794
Pages
320
Publisher
Tor Books
Published
Jan 15, 2013
Type
Fiction

Genres

Subjects

Space WarfareHuman-alien EncountersScience FictionSpace OperaSatireStar TrekHugo Award WinnerAward:hugo_award=2013Award:hugo_award=novelLarge Type Books

Places

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