What reading level is The Clue in the Corn Maze?

The Clue in the Corn Maze by Gertrude Chandler Warner is at a Level 3-4 reading level (Lexile 620L). Recommended for Lower Grades readers (Ages 5-8).

What age is The Clue in the Corn Maze appropriate for?

The Clue in the Corn Maze is recommended for Ages 5-8. HootRating: 8C (Clear).

What genre is The Clue in the Corn Maze?

The Clue in the Corn Maze is fiction — Juvenile Fiction. Part of the Boxcar Children series.

Does The Clue in the Corn Maze have any content warnings?

The Clue in the Corn Maze has a HootRating of 8C (Clear). No specific content flags noted. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is The Clue in the Corn Maze?

The Clue in the Corn Maze by Gertrude Chandler Warner is 126 pages (approximately 17,508 words).

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

The Clue in the Corn Maze

Gertrude Chandler Warner

The Clue in the Corn Maze

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Gertrude Chandler Warner

Boxcar Children

Reading Level 3-4 8C Ages 5-8 Balanced Read Page-Turner

The text is written at a 3rd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for younger children (ages 5–8), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.

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About This Book

When a corn maze at a bustling Iowa farm starts getting damaged after dark, a group of young siblings steps in to uncover who is behind the mischief. Their adventure leads them through twists and turns as they work to protect the beloved Corn King Days festival. Join them as they solve clues and bring the community together!

Themes

FarmsBrothers and sistersMystery Adventure

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 3-4 book with gentle content intensity. No notable content concerns flagged. Written for readers ages 5-8.

Why we rated The Clue in the Corn Maze 8C

The Clue in the Corn Maze is written at a Level 3-4 reading level with a Lexile measure of 620L across 126 pages (approximately 17,508 words). Strong independent readers around grade 4.9 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The Clue in the Corn Maze works for readers up to grade 5.9.

Read aloud, The Clue in the Corn Maze runs about 2 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.

We rate The Clue in the Corn Maze as 8C ("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, The Clue in the Corn Maze explores farms, brothers and sisters, mystery, and adventure — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.

Good fit for

✓ Children in the Ages 5-8 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
✓ Reluctant readers who need fast-paced, hook-heavy stories to stay engaged.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about farms, brothers and sisters, mystery.
✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there are 150 more books in the Boxcar Children series.