The hound of Rowan
Henry H. Neff
The hound of Rowan
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Henry H. Neff
The text is written at a 5th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for older middle graders (ages 11+), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
Max Daniels uncovers a magical Celtic tapestry that thrusts him into the hidden world of Rowan Academy, a secret school full of wonder and danger. As valuable artworks vanish and children go missing, Max must harness his emerging powers and team up with friends to confront a shadowy battle between good and evil. Adventure and mystery await at every turn as Max discovers his true destiny.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 5-6 book with mild content intensity. Content themes include mild peril, kidnapping, fantasy violence. Written for readers ages 11+.
Why we rated The hound of Rowan 10LP
The hound of Rowan is written at a Level 5-6 reading level across 414 pages (approximately 102,747 words). Strong independent readers around grade 6.9 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The hound of Rowan works for readers up to grade 7.9.
Read aloud, The hound of Rowan runs about 11.4 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.
We rate The hound of Rowan as 10LP ("Light — Physical") 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.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mild Peril, Kidnapping, Fantasy Violence.
Thematically, The hound of Rowan explores magic, schools, adventure, friendship, and family — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 11+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Readers who like a steady plot with enough momentum to keep pages turning.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about magic, schools, adventure.
- ✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there are 3 more books in the Tapestry series.
Maybe not for
- ! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.
For Parents
Content Intensity
10LP — Light — PhysicalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Content Flags
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
6/10Engaging read with solid pacing and interesting themes.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
More in the Tapestry Series
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780375838941
- Pages
- 414
- Publisher
- Random House Books for Young Readers
- Published
- 2007
- Type
- Fiction
- Word Count
- 102,747
- Read-Aloud
- ~11h 25m
- Text Density
- Standard