What reading level is The new policeman?

The new policeman by Kate Thompson is at a Level 8 reading level. Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is The new policeman appropriate for?

The new policeman is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 12MT (Moderate — Thematic).

What genre is The new policeman?

The new policeman is fiction — Fairies.

Does The new policeman have any content warnings?

The new policeman has a HootRating of 12MT (Moderate — Thematic). No specific content flags noted. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is The new policeman?

The new policeman by Kate Thompson is 407 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

The new policeman

Kate Thompson

The new policeman

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Kate Thompson

Reading Level 8 12MT Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The Guardian Children's Fiction Prize

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 mild with minimal sensitive material.

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About This Book

JJ races through the village, clutching a mysterious flute that might just hold the secret to where all the lost time has gone. The faster time slips away, the deeper JJ dives into a world of fairies and forgotten music. But when he steps into Tir na n'Og, the land of eternal youth, he realizes the real adventure is only just beginning.

Themes

Fantasy World-BuildingMusicIrish FolkloreFamily Adventure

Quick Assessment

This imaginative middle-grade novel follows JJ, a young musician in Ireland, as he uncovers a family mystery linked to lost time and a magical flute. Featuring themes of Irish folklore, music, and the interplay between human and fairy worlds, it offers a richly cultural and fantastical reading experience appropriate for ages 9 to 12. The story gently explores concepts of time and legacy without intense content, making it suitable for middle-grade readers.

Why we rated The new policeman 12MT

The new policeman is written at a Level 8 reading level across 407 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 9.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The new policeman works for readers up to grade 10.0.

We rate The new policeman as 12MT ("Moderate — Thematic") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. The strongest signals come from thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

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

Thematically, The new policeman explores fantasy world-building, music, irish folklore, family, 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.
✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about fantasy world-building, music, irish folklore.
✓ Readers (and parents) who care about award-recognized writing — The new policeman carries an award.

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.