The man who made gold
Barbara Ninde Byfield
The man who made gold
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Barbara Ninde Byfield
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 gentle with no concerning themes.
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About This Book
Here's a secret: Andrew, an eleven-year-old orphan, holds a key to a mysterious ancient craft—alchemy. Under the guidance of a real alchemist, he dives into a world where magic and science blur, but that's only the beginning.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction introduces readers to Andrew, a young orphan who apprentices with an alchemist, exploring themes of magic and discovery. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story combines adventure with historical fantasy elements and contains no intense content, making it a safe and engaging read for this age group.
Why we rated The man who made gold 9C
The man who made gold is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 123 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The man who made gold works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate The man who made gold as 9C ("Clear") because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.
Thematically, The man who made gold explores fantasy world-building, adventure, coming of age, and magic — 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 fantasy world-building, adventure, coming of age.
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
9C — ClearNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" 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
- 9780590303606
- Pages
- 123
- Publisher
- Scholastic Book Services ;
- Published
- 1977
- Type
- Fiction