The Black Beach
Doris Hiller
The Black Beach
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Doris Hiller
The text is written at a 3rd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
Dive into an exciting adventure where young heroes unravel mysteries and explore thrilling science fiction worlds. Each chapter invites readers to join in suspenseful moments and daring escapades, making the story easy to follow and fun to read. Perfect for young teens ready to explore exciting new tales.
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 3-4 book with mild content intensity. Content themes include mild peril, suspense. Written for readers ages 13+.
Why we rated The Black Beach 8LP
The Black Beach is written at a Level 3-4 reading level across 60 pages (approximately 9,468 words). Strong independent readers around grade 4.1 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The Black Beach works for readers up to grade 5.1.
Read aloud, The Black Beach runs about 1.1 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.
We rate The Black Beach as 8LP ("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.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mild Peril, Suspense.
Thematically, The Black Beach explores mystery, science & nature, adventure, 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.
- ✓ Readers who like a steady plot with enough momentum to keep pages turning.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about mystery, science & nature, adventure.
- ✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there are 2 more books in the Pacemaker series.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
8LP — Light — PhysicalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Content Flags
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
6/10Engaging read with solid pacing and interesting themes.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
More in the Pacemaker Series
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0822452677
- Pages
- 60
- Publisher
- Lake Publishing Company
- Published
- March 1978
- Type
- Fiction
- Word Count
- 9,468
- Read-Aloud
- ~1h 3m
- Text Density
- Standard