The Ferry That Was
Mary Gonzalez
The Ferry That Was
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Mary Gonzalez
The text is written at a 2nd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for younger children (ages 5–8), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
Here’s a secret: a school trip across the river turns into a journey through time! Jessica and Matthew find a magic doll who takes them to a castle filled with knights and hidden passages—but that’s only the beginning.
Quick Assessment
This early reader chapter book follows seven-year-old twins Jessica and Matthew on a magical time-travel adventure to the twelfth century. The story contains mild peril involving mistaken identities and a chase, but it remains appropriate for ages 5 to 8. Themes of friendship, history, and bravery are woven throughout the narrative.
Why we rated The Ferry That Was 7LP
The Ferry That Was is written at a Level 2 reading level across 48 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 3.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The Ferry That Was works for readers up to grade 4.0.
We rate The Ferry That Was as 7LP ("Light — Physical") 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.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mild Peril.
Thematically, The Ferry That Was explores adventure, friendship, and historical — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 5-8 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about adventure, friendship, historical.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
7LP — Light — PhysicalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Content Flags
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
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781413747584
- Pages
- 48
- Publisher
- Publish America
- Published
- February 7, 2005
- Type
- Fiction