Secret Doors of Cannondale
Stephanie Brick
Secret Doors of Cannondale
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Book One of the Cannondale Chronicles
by Stephanie Brick
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
Here's a secret: behind the creaky floorboards of an old house in Cannondale lies a hidden door that leads to magical worlds full of flying islands and fierce monsters. Adeline, a girl who's always felt like an outsider, stumbles upon this doorway and finds herself caught in a mystery bigger than she ever imagined—but that's only the beginning.
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fantasy follows twelve-year-old Adeline Perle, a girl who struggles with frequent moves and feelings of isolation. When she discovers a secret door in her new home, she embarks on a magical adventure involving friendship, trust, and self-discovery. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story includes themes of belonging, courage, and the complexity of relationships, with mild peril and fantasy violence presented in an age-appropriate way.
Why we rated Secret Doors of Cannondale 11ME
Secret Doors of Cannondale is written at a Level 6 reading level across 256 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Secret Doors of Cannondale works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Secret Doors of Cannondale 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, Secret Doors of Cannondale explores friendship, adventure, fantasy world-building, coming of age, and family — 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.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, adventure, fantasy world-building.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! 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.
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
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9798989475407
- Pages
- 256
- Publisher
- Raritan River Publishing
- Published
- 2024
- Type
- Fiction