Taur
Jack Lasenby
Taur
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Jack Lasenby
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
The sharp, salty wind bites at Ish's face as he races across the barren land, the crunch of dry earth beneath his feet echoing his pounding heart. Everywhere he looks, danger lurks in the shadows of the Salt Men chasing him. Yet within him burns a fierce hope for a place to belong, a people to call his own—if only he can survive the journey.
Quick Assessment
Taur is the second book in a fantasy adventure trilogy aimed at young teens, featuring Ish as he escapes threatening foes known as the Salt Men. The story explores themes of survival, belonging, and identity in a richly imagined world, suitable for readers aged 13 to 18. It contains some moments of peril but is appropriate for its target audience.
Why we rated Taur 9ME
Taur is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 160 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Taur works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Taur as 9ME ("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 — 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, Taur explores adventure, fantasy world-building, and coming of age — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ 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, fantasy world-building, coming of age.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9ME — 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
2/10A 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
- 1864470623
- Pages
- 160
- Publisher
- Hyland House Publishing
- Published
- 1998
- Type
- Fiction