Saving Cody
Brandon Wallace
Saving Cody
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Brandon Wallace
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 crisp pine scent fills the air as Jake and Taylor push through thick underbrush, their hearts pounding with every step. They’re racing against time to find their grandma’s hidden cabin, where danger lurks in the form of a looming lumber company. The bond between brothers and their love for Cody drive them forward, but what will they discover in the wilderness?
Quick Assessment
Saving Cody follows two brothers, ages 12 and 14, on a suspenseful adventure to find their grandmother living off the grid in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Alongside themes of family loyalty and survival, the story explores environmental challenges as the boys confront a lumber company threatening their grandmother’s property. Suitable for middle-grade readers, the book contains mild peril but no intense content.
Why we rated Saving Cody 11LE
Saving Cody 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, Saving Cody works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Saving Cody 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, Saving Cody explores adventure, survival, family, boys & men, and sports & recreation — 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 adventure, survival, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
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
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
- 9781665916639
- Pages
- 224
- Publisher
- Simon and Schuster
- Published
- 2024
- Type
- Fiction