The Grave
James Heneghan
The Grave
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by James Heneghan
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
Here's a secret: Tom Mullen can travel back in time through a mysterious hole at a construction site. Suddenly, he's in nineteenth-century Ireland, surrounded by history and mystery—but that's only the beginning.
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade historical fiction follows thirteen-year-old Tom Mullen, who unexpectedly travels back to nineteenth-century Ireland. The story explores themes of identity, history, and belonging, making it suitable for readers aged 9-12. There is mild emotional intensity related to family and historical hardships, but no graphic content.
Why we rated The Grave 11LE
The Grave is written at a Level 6 reading level across 256 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The Grave works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate The Grave as 11LE ("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 Grave explores mystery, historical, coming of age, and adventure — 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about mystery, historical, coming of age.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A 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
- 9780440229483
- Pages
- 256
- Publisher
- Laurel Leaf
- Published
- June 11, 2002
- Type
- Fiction