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The long arm of Gil Hamilton

Larry Niven

Cover of The long arm of Gil Hamilton

The long arm of Gil Hamilton

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Larry Niven

Reading Level 4-5 9LP Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 4th 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

What if you had a special power that could help you catch the bad guys no one else could? Gil Hamilton’s psychic abilities make him the best detective in the galaxy, but his enemies are closing in from all sides. Can he outsmart them before it’s too late?

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade science fiction story follows Gil Hamilton, a skilled agent with psychic abilities working for a global police force. The book features themes of adventure and suspense suitable for readers aged 9 to 12, with some mild peril as Gil faces threats from various enemies. Parents should note the story’s focus on problem-solving and courage in the face of danger.

Why we rated The long arm of Gil Hamilton 9LP

The long arm of Gil Hamilton is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 182 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The long arm of Gil Hamilton works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate The long arm of Gil Hamilton as 9LP ("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.

No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.

Thematically, The long arm of Gil Hamilton explores adventure, science & nature, mystery, and fantasy world-building — 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.
  • Kids drawn to stories about adventure, science & nature, mystery.

Maybe not for

  • ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.

For Parents

Content Intensity

9LP — Light — Physical
Emotional
Light
Physical
Light
Social
Clear
Thematic
Light

Light conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.

Data confidence: standard

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

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

3/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

1/10

A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
4
Emotional Weight
4
Theme Richness
4
World Scope
1
Data Confidence
7

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Details

Book Length

182 pages
ISBN
0345248686
Pages
182
Publisher
Ballantine Books
Published
1976
Type
Fiction

Genres

Subjects

Fiction_generalAmerican Science Fiction