Silver Lake
Robert Michael Ballantyne
Silver Lake
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
First Edition
by Robert Michael Ballantyne
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
Silver Lake isn't just a story—it's a journey into courage and friendship where every choice counts. When a young hero faces the wild unknown, bravery becomes the key to unlocking the greatest adventure of all. This tale proves that even the smallest actions can make the biggest difference.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Silver Lake is a middle-grade adventure that explores themes of courage, friendship, and self-discovery. Suitable for ages 9-12, it presents social issues like loss and resilience in an accessible way, without intense or graphic content. Parents can expect a classic juvenile fiction narrative that encourages positive values.
Why we rated Silver Lake 9LE
Silver Lake is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 104 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Silver Lake works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Silver Lake 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.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, Silver Lake explores adventure, friendship, coming of age, social issues, and juvenile fiction — 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, friendship, coming of age.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LE — 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
- 9781419147296
- Pages
- 104
- Publisher
- Kessinger Publishing
- Published
- June 30, 2004
- Type
- Fiction