The kite
W. O. Mitchell
The kite
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by W. O. Mitchell
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
There's a secret about an old kite that only a few know — it's tied to a story of friendship, adventure, and a flood that changes everything. But that's only the beginning.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows a story set in Canada, weaving themes of friendship and natural disaster through the experiences of older men and young characters. Suitable for ages 9-12, it gently explores community and resilience in the face of a flood, with no intense content concerns.
Why we rated The kite 11LE
The kite is written at a Level 6 reading level across 210 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The kite works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate The kite 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 kite explores friendship, floods, older characters, adventure, and canada — 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 friendship, floods, older characters.
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
- 0770511767
- Pages
- 210
- Publisher
- McMillan Company of Canada
- Published
- 1974
- Type
- Fiction