The dragonfly effect
Gordon Korman
The dragonfly effect
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Gordon Korman
The text is written at a 6th 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
Here's a secret: Jax has a power not many people know about, and it's about to be his family's biggest hope. When a mysterious hypnotist threatens everything, Jax must dive into a world of mind tricks and danger—but that's only the beginning.
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows Jax, a boy with special abilities who is enlisted by the government to face a hypnotic mastermind. The story explores themes of mesmerism and hypnotism within an action-packed fiction framework, suitable for readers ages 9-12. Parents should note the presence of suspense and mild peril, but overall the content is appropriate for middle-grade readers.
Why we rated The dragonfly effect 11LE
The dragonfly effect is written at a Level 6 reading level across 243 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The dragonfly effect works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate The dragonfly effect as 11LE ("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 dragonfly effect explores adventure, mystery, and juvenile fiction — 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about adventure, mystery, juvenile fiction.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780545503365
- Pages
- 243
- Publisher
- Scholastic Press
- Published
- 2015
- Type
- Fiction