The magic journey
John Treadwell Nichols
The magic journey
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Novel
by John Treadwell Nichols
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 gentle with no concerning themes.
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About This Book
Boom times came to the forgotten little south-western town of Chamisaville just as the rest of America was in the Great Depression, when a rattle-trap bus loaded with stolen dynamite blew sky-high, leaving behind a giant gushing hot spring. Spanning forty years, The Magic Journey tells the tale of how Progress transforms a rural backwater into a boom-town. At first, it is a magic time for Chamisaville -- almost as if every day were a holiday. But as the land hungry developers, speculators, and interlopers move in, Chamisaville's people find themselves all but displaced, their children no longer heirs to their land or their traditions. With mounting intensity, The Magic Journey reaches a climax that is tragically foreordained. A sensitive, vital, and honest chronicle of life in America's Southwest, it is also an incisive commentary on what America has become on its road to Progress. Copyright © Libri GmbH. All rights reserved.
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 8 book. No notable content concerns flagged. Written for readers ages 9-12.
Why we rated The magic journey Level 0
The magic journey is written at a Level 8 reading level across 529 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 9.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The magic journey works for readers up to grade 10.0.
We rate The magic journey as Unrated because the content sits in the "Unrated" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the unrated intensity score.
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.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
Level 0 — UnratedThis book has not yet been rated for content intensity.
Was our "Unrated" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0030153565
- Pages
- 529
- Publisher
- Henry Holt
- Published
- 1978
- Type
- Fiction