The boom room
Rick Blechta
The boom room
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Rick Blechta
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
Detective Mervin Pratt races through the crowded nightclub, heart pounding as he catches sight of a familiar face—his partner's half brother—right where the crime happened. Suddenly, a clue falls into his hands that could change everything. But who can he really trust when jealousy and secrets swirl in the shadows?
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction follows Detective Mervin Pratt as he investigates a murder in a nightclub, uncovering complex family ties and jealousy that complicate the case. Suitable for readers around ages 9-12 with a reading level of grade 4.5, the book contains themes of homicide and jealousy presented in a way accessible to new literate readers. Parents should be aware that while the story involves murder, it is handled in a manner appropriate for juvenile fiction.
Why we rated The boom room 9ME
The boom room is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 147 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The boom room works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate The boom room 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, thematic difficulty — 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, The boom room explores homicide, jealousy, juvenile fiction, mystery, and family — 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 homicide, jealousy, juvenile fiction.
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
- 9781459805149
- Pages
- 147
- Publisher
- Raven Books
- Published
- 2014
- Type
- Fiction