Smokescreen
Nancy Hartry
Smokescreen
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Nancy Hartry
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
The sharp scent of smoke fills the air, and the crackle of distant flames sets Kerry’s heart pounding. Far from her dance studio and everything familiar, she faces wild forests, mysterious partners, and secrets burning hotter than the fire itself. Can she stand strong when the world around her is blazing with danger and deceit?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Smokescreen follows Kerry, a young girl taking on her first summer job deep in the forests of northwestern Ontario, far from home and comfort. When forest fires and mysterious events unfold, Kerry teams up with her unusual partner Yvette to uncover a dangerous crime while navigating challenges including workplace sexism and physical danger. Suitable for middle-grade readers, this adventure story includes themes of bravery, friendship, and environmental challenges, with some tension and peril appropriate for ages 9-12.
Why we rated Smokescreen 11ME
Smokescreen is written at a Level 6 reading level across 204 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Smokescreen works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Smokescreen 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, social complexity — 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, Smokescreen explores adventure, friendship, environmental challenges, coming of age, 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, friendship, environmental challenges.
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
- 9781770494053
- Pages
- 204
- Publisher
- Tundra Books
- Published
- 2013
- Type
- Fiction