The fabulous clipjoint
Fredric Brown
The fabulous clipjoint
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Fredric Brown
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
Ed Hunter races through Chicago’s shadowy streets, heart pounding as he chases a dangerous killer. The glittering Gold Coast hides secrets darker than the alleyways, and Ed’s about to discover just how far he’ll have to go to find the truth. But when his father disappears, everything Ed thought he knew is thrown into chaos.
Quick Assessment
Set in 1948 Chicago, this mystery follows teenager Ed Hunter as he searches for a missing father and a dangerous killer. The story explores themes of family struggle and resilience, suitable for middle-grade readers who enjoy suspenseful detective tales. The book contains mild peril and some mature themes related to family hardship but is appropriate for ages 9-12.
Why we rated The fabulous clipjoint 9ME
The fabulous clipjoint is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 181 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The fabulous clipjoint works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate The fabulous clipjoint 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 — 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 fabulous clipjoint explores mystery, family, adventure, and historical — 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.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about mystery, family, adventure.
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
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
3/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0839825412
- Pages
- 181
- Publisher
- Gregg Press
- Published
- 1979
- Type
- Fiction