The devil and his boy
Anthony Horowitz
The devil and his boy
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Anthony Horowitz
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
The thick, smoky air of Elizabethan London tickles your nose as footsteps echo off cobblestones slick with rain. Orphan Tom Falconer races through shadowy streets, heart pounding, with dangerous criminals closing in. Just when all seems lost, a clever pickpocket named Moll appears—but their wild chase is only the start of a secret that could change the whole kingdom.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Set in the dangerous streets of Elizabethan London, this historical adventure follows orphan Tom Falconer as he encounters criminals and new allies while uncovering a secret that could impact the Queen and the country. Suitable for ages 9-12, the book contains suspenseful moments and mild peril but no graphic content. Themes include orphans, crime, and historical context, making it an engaging read for middle-grade readers interested in adventure and history.
Why we rated The devil and his boy 9ME
The devil and his boy is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 182 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The devil and his boy works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate The devil and his boy 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, 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 devil and his boy explores orphans, adventure, historical, crime, 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 orphans, adventure, historical.
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
- 9781406357684
- Pages
- 182
- Publisher
- Walker Books
- Published
- 2014
- Type
- Fiction