The obsidian blade
Pete Hautman
The obsidian blade
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Pete Hautman
The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
Tucker Feye isn’t just looking for his missing family—he’s stepping into shimmering portals that twist time and space! From his small town to a future filled with digital healers and ancient mysteries, his daring journey changes everything. What happens when one boy’s choices rewrite the past and future?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade science fiction novel follows Tucker Feye as he embarks on a time-travel adventure to find his missing family. The story explores complex themes such as religion, identity, and the consequences of altering history, making it suitable for readers ages 9-12 who can handle thought-provoking content. Parents should note the book includes elements of suspense and some intense moments tied to time travel and family loss.
Why we rated The obsidian blade 12IT
The obsidian blade is written at a Level 7 reading level across 308 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The obsidian blade works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate The obsidian blade as 12IT ("Intense — Thematic") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, 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 moderate intensity score.
Thematically, The obsidian blade explores science & nature, mystery, family, religion, 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.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about science & nature, mystery, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12IT — Intense — ThematicReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780763664442
- Pages
- 308
- Publisher
- National Geographic Books
- Published
- 2013
- Type
- Fiction