The India fan
Eleanor Burford
The India fan
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Eleanor Burford
The text is written at a 8th 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
The soft rustle of silk and the faint shimmer of a peacock feather catch Drusilla's eye, pulling her into a world of secrets and shadows. Bound to the grand Framling family, she discovers an ancient fan wrapped in mystery and magic. What will happen when a curse whispers through its delicate feathers?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade historical fiction follows Drusilla, the vicar's daughter, as she becomes connected to the wealthy Framling family and inherits a mysterious peacock fan rumored to be cursed. The story explores themes of family ties, friendship, and the challenges of growing up within societal expectations. Suitable for ages 9-12, it offers an engaging mix of history and gentle suspense without intense content.
Why we rated The India fan 12LE
The India fan is written at a Level 8 reading level across 404 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 9.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The India fan works for readers up to grade 10.0.
We rate The India fan as 12LE ("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 India fan explores children of clergy, history, british, female friendship, and fiction — 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 children of clergy, history, british.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781402277436
- Pages
- 404
- Publisher
- Sourcebooks Fire
- Published
- 2013
- Type
- Fiction