The lost sword of the Confederate ghost
Emily C. Monte
The lost sword of the Confederate ghost
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Mystery in Two Centuries
by Emily C. Monte
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
Flames roar around the burning city as three friends clutch a mysterious sword, heart pounding in the eerie silence. Suddenly, a ghostly figure emerges from the smoke, eyes filled with secrets from the past. What will happen when history and mystery collide?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade historical fiction blends time travel, mystery, and supernatural elements as three teenagers journey back to Civil War-era South Carolina. The story introduces themes of history and friendship while featuring a ghostly character linked to a stolen Confederate sword. Suitable for ages 9-12, it contains mild peril related to historical events but remains appropriate for this reading level.
Why we rated The lost sword of the Confederate ghost 9LT
The lost sword of the Confederate ghost is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 108 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The lost sword of the Confederate ghost works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate The lost sword of the Confederate ghost as 9LT ("Light — Thematic") 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 lost sword of the Confederate ghost explores time travel, ghosts, mystery, historical, and adventure — 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 time travel, ghosts, mystery.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LT — Light — ThematicLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A 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
- 9781572491328
- Pages
- 108
- Publisher
- White Mane Publishing Company
- Published
- 1998
- Type
- Fiction