The first crusade

Name: The first crusade
Author: Susan Edgington
ISBN: 0823942147

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

The Capture of Jerusalem in AD 1099

by Susan Edgington

Library of the Middle Ages

Reading Level 8-9 MP · Moderate · Physical Ages 9-12 Balanced Read Page-Turner

The text is written at an 8th 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. Its HootRating code, MP, means moderate content, mostly physical.

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About This Book

Discover the dramatic journey of knights and pilgrims as they set out on a daring mission to reclaim the holy city of Jerusalem. Experience the challenges, battles, and faith that shaped a pivotal moment in history during the First Crusade. This adventure brings to life the people and events that sparked one of the most famous quests of the Middle Ages.

Themes

Historical AdventureFaithWar & Conflict

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 8-9 book with moderate content intensity. Content themes include war & conflict, physical danger, historical. Written for readers ages 9-12.

Why we rated The first crusade MP (Moderate)

The first crusade is written at a Level 8-9 reading level across 64 pages (approximately 7,960 words). Middle Grades (Ages 9-12) is the typical interest range for this book — readers in that age band have the maturity and attention span suited to the story, separate from whether they can decode the words.

Read aloud, The first crusade takes about 53 minutes, which fits within a single read-aloud session.

We rate The first crusade as MP (Moderate, mostly physical) because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from physical peril, social complexity — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: War & Conflict, Physical Danger, Historical.

Thematically, The first crusade explores historical, adventure, faith, and war & conflict — 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.
✓ Reluctant readers who need fast-paced, hook-heavy stories to stay engaged.
✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about historical, adventure, faith.
✓ 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

MP · Moderate · Physical

Emotional

Gentle

Physical

Moderate ←

Social

Moderate

Thematic

Gentle

Reading the HootRating code: the first letter is the content intensity (C = Gentle · L = Mild · M = Moderate · I = Intense · V = Very Intense); the second, when there is one, is the kind of content that drives it (E = Emotional · P = Physical · S = Social · T = Thematic). Reading level and age range are rated separately. How we rate

Real stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.