The Ghosts of Saratoga
David Ossont, David Dampf
The Ghosts of Saratoga
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by David Ossont, David Dampf
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
Gunfire crackles around Roland as he ducks behind a tree, heart pounding. The Battle of Saratoga rages, and every shot could be his last. Can Roland survive the chaos and help turn the tide of history?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Set during the American Revolution, this historical fiction follows 17-year-old Roland McCaffrey as he fights in the Battles of Saratoga. The story explores themes of bravery, guilt, and strategy in wartime, suitable for teens interested in history and action. Parents should note depictions of combat and the moral complexities of war.
Why we rated The Ghosts of Saratoga 9ME
The Ghosts of Saratoga is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 160 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The Ghosts of Saratoga works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate The Ghosts of Saratoga 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, physical peril — 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 Ghosts of Saratoga explores history, young adult fiction, action & adventure, and historical — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about history, young adult fiction, action & adventure.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
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
1/10A 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
- 9781620063088
- Pages
- 160
- Publisher
- Milford House Press
- Published
- 2019-07-21
- Type
- Fiction