Star of Stone
Pierdomenico Baccalario
Star of Stone
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Century #2
by Pierdomenico Baccalario
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.
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About This Book
There’s a secret hidden deep in the heart of New York City—a Star of Stone that holds a mystery no one has solved. Elettra, Sheng, and Mistral have just met two new friends, Harvey and Ermite, who might be the key to uncovering it. But that’s only the beginning.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction follows a group of friends in New York City as they unravel clues surrounding a mysterious artifact called the Star of Stone. Appropriate for ages 9-12, the story blends themes of friendship, good versus evil, and mystery, encouraging critical thinking and teamwork. The content is suitable for this age group with no notable intense scenes.
Why we rated Star of Stone 11C
Star of Stone is written at a Level 6 reading level across 290 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Star of Stone works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Star of Stone as 11C ("Clear") because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.
Thematically, Star of Stone explores friendship, mystery, good and evil, and adventure — 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 friendship, mystery, good and evil.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11C — ClearNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780375858963
- Pages
- 290
- Publisher
- Random House Books for Young Readers
- Published
- 2010
- Type
- Fiction