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The Dark Glass

Peter Lancett

Cover of The Dark Glass

The Dark Glass

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Peter Lancett

Dark Man

Reading Level 2-3 LP · Mild · Physical Ages 13+ Matched Page-Turner

The text is written at a 2nd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material. Its HootRating code, LP, means mild content, mostly physical.

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About This Book

A mysterious hero known as Dark Man embarks on a thrilling quest to find a magical glass that reveals hidden truths. Facing shadowy enemies and unraveling dark mysteries, each adventure challenges him to defeat evil and protect what is good. With short, sharp storytelling and striking comic visuals, these gripping tales invite readers into a world where courage and cunning are key.

Themes

Good vs. EvilAdventureMysteryComic Format

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 2-3 book with mild content intensity. Content themes include mild peril, fantasy violence. Written for readers ages 13+.

Why we rated The Dark Glass LP (Mild)

The Dark Glass is written at a Level 2-3 reading level (approximately 400 words). Upper Grades (Ages 13+) is the typical interest range for this book — readers in that age band have the maturity and attention span suited to the story, separate from whether they can decode the words.

Read aloud, The Dark Glass takes about 3 minutes, which fits within a single read-aloud session.

We rate The Dark Glass as LP (Mild, mostly 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, Fantasy Violence.

Thematically, The Dark Glass explores good vs. evil, adventure, mystery, and comic format — 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.
  • ✓ Reluctant readers who need fast-paced, hook-heavy stories to stay engaged.
  • ✓ Kids drawn to stories about good vs. evil, adventure, mystery.
  • ✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there are 16 more books in the Dark Man series.

Maybe not for

  • ! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.

For Parents

Content Intensity

LP · Mild · Physical
Emotional
Gentle
Physical
Mild ←
Social
Gentle
Thematic
Gentle

Reading the HootRating code: the first letter is the content intensity (C = Gentle · L = Mild · M = Moderate · I = Intense · V = Very Intense); the second, when there is one, is the kind of content that drives it (E = Emotional · P = Physical · S = Social · T = Thematic). Reading level and age range are rated separately. How we rate

Light conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.

Content Flags

Mild Peril Fantasy Violence
Data confidence: standard

Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

7/10

High engagement — strong hooks for reluctant readers, like a long series, humor or adventure.

Discussion Potential

1/10

A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
2
Emotional Weight
4
Theme Richness
6
World Scope
1
Data Confidence
8

More in the Dark Man Series

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Matched on content and themes — all rated for reading level and content intensity.

Details

Book Length

400 words
3m read-aloud
ISBN
9781616510183
Publisher
Saddleback Educational Publishing
Published
2010
Type
Fiction
Word Count
400
Read-Aloud
~3 min

Genres

Subjects

Good and EvilLost and Found Possessions