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: 8LE (Light — Emotional).

What genre is The Clue in the Corn Maze?

The Clue in the Corn Maze is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

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

The Clue in the Corn Maze has a HootRating of 8LE (Light — Emotional). 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.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated July 16, 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

Reading Level 3-4 8LE Ages 5-8 Matched

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 mild with minimal sensitive material.

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About This Book

The Aldens dash through towering stalks of corn, their hearts pounding as the sun sets behind the Iowa farm. Shadows flicker between the twisting paths of the maze, and something is definitely not right. Suddenly, a mysterious noise echoes—who could be sabotaging the festival?

Themes

FarmsBrothers and sistersMysteryJuvenile fictionOrphans

Quick Assessment

This early chapter book follows the Alden siblings as they visit an Iowa farm famous for its corn maze and festival. When vandalism threatens to shut down the event, the children take on the challenge of solving the mystery. Suitable for early readers aged 5-8, the story features themes of family, cooperation, and problem-solving with light suspense appropriate for young audiences.

Why we rated The Clue in the Corn Maze 8LE

The Clue in the Corn Maze is written at a Level 3-4 reading level with a Lexile measure of 620L across 126 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 4.5 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 5.5.

We rate The Clue in the Corn Maze as 8LE ("Light — Emotional") 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 Clue in the Corn Maze explores farms, brothers and sisters, mystery, juvenile fiction, and orphans — 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.
✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about farms, brothers and sisters, mystery.