The dragon hoard.
Tanith Lee
The dragon hoard.
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Tanith Lee
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
What if a kingdom lost everything because of one mistake? Imagine a brave prince setting out on a daring journey to find treasure and save his people. But will the dragon’s hoard be enough to turn fate around, or is something even bigger waiting for him?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fantasy follows a young prince who must leave his troubled kingdom to seek fortune and restore its wealth after his father’s costly mistake. Suitable for children ages 9 to 12, the story explores themes of responsibility, courage, and adventure within a fairy tale setting. Parents should note the mild peril typical of fantasy quests but will find it appropriate for the target age group.
Why we rated The dragon hoard. 9LE
The dragon hoard. is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 162 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The dragon hoard. works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate The dragon hoard. as 9LE ("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 dragon hoard. explores fairy tales, adventure, coming of age, and family — 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 fairy tales, adventure, coming of age.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" 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
- 0374318646
- Pages
- 162
- Publisher
- Farrar, Straus & Giroux (BYR)
- Published
- 1971
- Type
- Fiction