The Hermes fall
Baxter, John
The Hermes fall
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Baxter, John
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
No spaceship has ever fallen like the Hermes before—shattered and stranded millions of miles from home. When disaster strikes, survival depends on every ounce of courage and cleverness. But the biggest challenge? Staying hopeful when all seems lost.
Quick Assessment
The Hermes Fall is a middle-grade science fiction novel about a space mission that goes terribly wrong, leaving the crew stranded far from Earth. It explores themes of bravery, teamwork, and resilience, making it suitable for readers aged 9 to 12 who enjoy adventurous and thought-provoking stories. The book contains mild peril but is appropriate for its target audience.
Why we rated The Hermes fall 11LE
The Hermes fall is written at a Level 6 reading level across 252 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The Hermes fall works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate The Hermes fall 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 Hermes fall explores adventure, science & nature, survival, and friendship — 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.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about adventure, science & nature, survival.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
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
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0671240552
- Pages
- 252
- Publisher
- Simon & Schuster
- Published
- 1978
- Type
- Fiction