The ice child

Elizabeth McGregor

Cover of The ice child

The ice child

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Elizabeth McGregor

Reading Level 8 12ME Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 8th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.

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About This Book

I have a secret to tell you about a mystery frozen in ice—Sir John Franklin and his lost Arctic expedition. Jo Harper’s world turns upside down when her son Sam gets very sick, and the only person who can save him is hiding away. But finding John is just the start of an adventure no one expected.

Themes

FamilyMysterySick ChildrenMedical ChallengesArctic RegionsAdventure

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel explores themes of family, mystery, and medical challenges as Jo Harper navigates her son Sam’s illness and the search for his half-brother John, who holds the key to saving him. The story blends historical intrigue with personal struggles suitable for readers aged 9-12. Parents should note the book deals with serious topics like illness and family separation but presents them in an accessible and sensitive way.

For Parents

Content Intensity

12ME — Moderate — Emotional
Emotional
Moderate
Physical
Light
Social
Light
Thematic
Light

Real stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.

Data confidence: standard

Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

3/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

3/10

A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
7
Emotional Weight
6
Theme Richness
6
World Scope
3
Data Confidence
7

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Details

Book Length

540 pages
ISBN
1587241099
Pages
540
Publisher
Wheeler Publishing, Incorporated
Published
2001
Type
Fiction

Genres

Subjects

Bone MarrowTransplantationMissing PersonsSick ChildrenLarge Type BooksArctic RegionsMothers and SonsStepchildrenDiscoveries in GeographyBereavementAplastic AnemiaWomen JournalistsDiscovery and ExplorationJournalistsBrothersWidows

Places

Arctic regions