The Ballad Of Sleeping Beauty
Gabriel Benson
The Ballad Of Sleeping Beauty
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Gabriel Benson
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 mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
What if the classic tale of Sleeping Beauty was set in the wild, dusty towns of the American West? Imagine a story where cowboys and magic collide, where every shadow could hide a secret or a spell. How will the sleepy princess wake up when the frontier is full of danger?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade graphic novel reimagines the traditional Sleeping Beauty fairy tale within an American Western setting, blending fantasy and adventure. Suitable for ages 9-12, it offers engaging visuals and an accessible reading level, with mild fantasy peril typical of fairy tales and westerns. Parents should note the blend of fantasy violence and thematic elements common to both genres, but overall content is appropriate for this age group.
Why we rated The Ballad Of Sleeping Beauty 11LP
The Ballad Of Sleeping Beauty is written at a Level 6 reading level across 224 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The Ballad Of Sleeping Beauty works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate The Ballad Of Sleeping Beauty as 11LP ("Light — Physical") 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, The Ballad Of Sleeping Beauty explores fantasy, adventure, graphic novels, western, 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 fantasy, adventure, graphic novels.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11LP — Light — PhysicalLight 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
- 9780976686002
- Pages
- 224
- Publisher
- Image Comics
- Published
- March 29, 2006
- Type
- Fiction