The Dungeon Master
William C. Dear
The Dungeon Master
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
The Disappearance of James Dallas Egbert III
by William C. Dear
The text is written at a 7th 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
Here's a secret: a clever teenager vanished without a trace, leaving behind clues only a few could understand. His story is full of mystery and adventure, but that's only the beginning.
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction book tells the intriguing story of a bright teenager who mysteriously disappears, blending elements of biography and true crime. Suitable for ages 9-12, it explores themes of mystery and social issues in a way that is engaging yet appropriate for middle readers.
Why we rated The Dungeon Master 12ME
The Dungeon Master is written at a Level 7 reading level across 382 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The Dungeon Master works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate The Dungeon Master as 12ME ("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, social complexity — 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 Dungeon Master explores mystery, biography, social services & welfare, true crime, and adventure — 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 mystery, biography, social services & welfare.
- ✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12ME — 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
3/10A 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
- 9780345326959
- Pages
- 382
- Publisher
- Ballantine Books
- Published
- October 12, 1985
- Type
- Nonfiction