The perils of fishboy
Cory Basil
The perils of fishboy
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
a tale split in two
by Cory Basil
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
The salty spray of the ocean stings your face as waves crash wildly around you. Beneath the surface, a boy with shimmering scales and a secret tail struggles to find where he truly belongs. Every splash and every step brings new dangers, but also the promise of discovering who Fishboy really is.
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade adventure follows Finnegan Blink, known as Fishboy, as he navigates life between two worlds—water and land. Facing challenges like bullying and identity struggles within a unique school setting, Fishboy embarks on a journey of self-discovery and courage. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story includes themes of belonging and personal growth with mild peril and fantasy elements.
Why we rated The perils of fishboy 12ME
The perils of fishboy is written at a Level 7 reading level across 379 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The perils of fishboy works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate The perils of fishboy as 12ME ("Moderate — Emotional") 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, physical peril — 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 perils of fishboy explores adventure, coming of age, friendship, family, and fantasy world-building — 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.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about adventure, coming of age, friendship.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal 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
2/10A 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
- 9780984803439
- Pages
- 379
- Publisher
- Fog Ink
- Published
- 2013
- Type
- Fiction