Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated
Snake
Jeff Stone
Snake
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Jeff Stone
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
What happens when a twelve-year-old master of snake-style martial arts loses his temple and his Grandmaster? Seh finds himself caught between danger and discovery as he joins a bandit gang and encounters a mysterious woman named Cobra. Can he outrun the vengeful Ying and uncover the secrets that bind them all?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction follows twelve-year-old Seh, a skilled snake-style martial artist, who navigates life after losing his temple and mentor. The story involves themes of martial arts, adventure, and human-animal relationships, with some mild peril as Seh encounters a bandit gang and a vengeful antagonist. Suitable for ages 9-12, it offers action and suspense without graphic content.
Why we rated Snake 9LE
Snake is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 700L across 210 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Snake works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Snake 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, Snake explores martial arts, adventure, human-animal relationships, friendship, 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.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about martial arts, adventure, human-animal relationships.
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
- 9780375830761
- Pages
- 210
- Publisher
- Yearling Books
- Published
- 2006
- Type
- Fiction
- Lexile
- 700L