The curse of the ice serpent
Jon Mayhew
The curse of the ice serpent
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Jon Mayhew
The text is written at a 6th 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.
We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.
About This Book
I have a secret about a hero named Dakkar, who battles not just monsters but a dangerous clan of evil brothers. In the frozen lands of Greenland, giant bears and sabretooth tigers are just the start—but that's only the beginning.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade adventure follows Dakkar, a young hero inspired by classic tales, as he faces off against evil brothers and terrifying Arctic creatures in a thrilling quest. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story features fantasy violence and themes of good versus evil, with exciting action scenes set in a richly imagined icy world.
Why we rated The curse of the ice serpent 11MP
The curse of the ice serpent is written at a Level 6 reading level across 215 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The curse of the ice serpent works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate The curse of the ice serpent as 11MP ("Moderate — Physical") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from physical peril — 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 curse of the ice serpent explores adventure, fantasy world-building, monsters, good and evil, and friendship — 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 adventure, fantasy world-building, monsters.
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
11MP — Moderate — PhysicalReal 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
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
The ice dragon
Gary Gygax
The ice dragon
Gary Gygax
Ice Dragon
Tony Abbott
Ice Dragon
Tony Abbott
The Ice Dragon
George R. R. Martin
The Ice Dragon
George R. R. Martin
Monsters of Celtic Mythology
Bernard Evslin
Monsters of Celtic Mythology
Bernard Evslin
Monsters of Norse Mythology
Bernard Evslin
Monsters of Norse Mythology
Bernard Evslin
The Ice Bear's Cave
Mark Haddon
The Ice Bear's Cave
Mark Haddon
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781408854235
- Pages
- 215
- Publisher
- Bloomsbury
- Published
- 2015
- Type
- Fiction