Silenced! The 1969 Journal of Malcolm Moorie (Crime Through Time, No. 3)
Bill Doyle
Silenced! The 1969 Journal of Malcolm Moorie (Crime Through Time, No. 3)
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
The 1969 Journal of Malcolm Moorie
by Bill Doyle
The text is written at a 4th 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
Fourteen-year-old Mal starts at a boarding school in rural California in 1969 and soon uncovers a secret involving threatened wildlife and a forbidden chemical. As he digs deeper, Mal must navigate mysteries that put both animals and people at risk. Adventure and suspense lead him to stand up for what’s right in a time of environmental danger.
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 4-5 book with mild content intensity. Content themes include mild peril, environmental issues. Written for readers ages 9-12.
Why we rated Silenced! The 1969 Journal of Malcolm Moorie (Crime Through Time, No. 3) 9LE
Silenced! The 1969 Journal of Malcolm Moorie (Crime Through Time, No. 3) is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 144 pages (approximately 25,869 words). Strong independent readers around grade 5.3 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Silenced! The 1969 Journal of Malcolm Moorie (Crime Through Time, No. 3) works for readers up to grade 6.3.
Read aloud, Silenced! The 1969 Journal of Malcolm Moorie (Crime Through Time, No. 3) runs about 2.9 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.
We rate Silenced! The 1969 Journal of Malcolm Moorie (Crime Through Time, No. 3) as 9LE ("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.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mild Peril, Environmental Issues.
Thematically, Silenced! The 1969 Journal of Malcolm Moorie (Crime Through Time, No. 3) explores historical, mystery, adventure, science & nature, and coming of age — 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.
- ✓ Readers who like a steady plot with enough momentum to keep pages turning.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about historical, mystery, adventure.
- ✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there are 2 more books in the Crime Through Time series.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Content Flags
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
6/10Engaging read with solid pacing and interesting themes.
Discussion Potential
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
More in the Crime Through Time Series
Nabbed! The 1925 Journal of G. Codd Fitzmorgan (Crime Through Time, No. 2)
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Nabbed! The 1925 Journal of G. Codd Fitzmorgan (Crime Through Time, No. 2)
Bill Doyle
Betrayed! The 1977 Journal of Zeke Moorie (Crime Through Time, No. 4)
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Betrayed! The 1977 Journal of Zeke Moorie (Crime Through Time, No. 4)
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 031605738X
- Pages
- 144
- Publisher
- Little Brown & Company
- Published
- July 12, 2006
- Type
- Fiction
- Word Count
- 25,869
- Read-Aloud
- ~2h 52m
- Text Density
- Standard