Revolver
Marcus Sedgwick
Revolver
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Marcus Sedgwick
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
Snow crunches under Sig's boots as he hears a sudden knock at the cabin door. A stranger, eyes cold and hand resting on a revolver, steps inside with a dangerous secret about Sig’s father. With his sister gone for help and danger closing in, Sig faces a choice that could change everything.
Quick Assessment
Set in the Arctic Circle in 1910, this middle-grade novel explores themes of survival, family secrets, and moral dilemmas. It follows 15-year-old Sig Andersson as he confronts a threatening stranger while coping with his father's recent death. Suitable for ages 9-12, the book contains mild peril and emotional tension appropriate for middle-grade readers.
Why we rated Revolver 11ME
Revolver is written at a Level 6 reading level across 224 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Revolver works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Revolver 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 — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.
Thematically, Revolver explores adventure, family, survival, and mystery — 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, family, survival.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781842551868
- Pages
- 224
- Publisher
- Orion
- Published
- 2009
- Type
- Fiction