The flame of peace
Deborah Nourse Lattimore
The flame of peace
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
a tale of the Aztecs
by Deborah Nourse Lattimore
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
A young Aztec boy holds the power to stop a war by stealing the legendary flame of peace! But nine mysterious and tricky lords of the night stand in his way. Can he outsmart them all and bring harmony to his world?
Quick Assessment
This early chapter book introduces young readers to Aztec culture through an adventurous story about bravery and peace. Suitable for ages 5-8, it features a young protagonist who faces challenges to prevent war, offering gentle lessons on courage and conflict resolution. The narrative contains mild fantasy elements and is appropriate for early readers with no intense content.
Why we rated The flame of peace 7LE
The flame of peace is written at a Level 2 reading level across 40 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 3.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The flame of peace works for readers up to grade 4.0.
We rate The flame of peace as 7LE ("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 flame of peace explores adventure, historical, fantasy world-building, and coming of age — 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, historical, fantasy world-building.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
7LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
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
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780060237080
- Pages
- 40
- Publisher
- HarperCollins Publishers
- Published
- 1991
- Type
- Fiction