The Power and the Glory
Graham Greene
The Power and the Glory
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Graham Greene
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes.
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About This Book
This story shows the incredible courage of one man standing up when everyone else is afraid. A priest faces danger and his own doubts in a land where faith is forbidden. His journey reveals why bravery and belief matter more than ever.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Set in a turbulent region of southern Mexico, this novel follows the last remaining priest as he navigates persecution and personal struggles. Suitable for teens, it explores themes of faith, courage, and redemption amid political oppression. Parents should note the mature themes of violence and moral conflict.
Why we rated The Power and the Glory 11IE
The Power and the Glory is written at a Level 6 reading level across 221 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The Power and the Glory works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate The Power and the Glory as 11IE ("Intense — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Intense" range — intense conflict including peril, frightening scenes, or emotionally heavy themes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, physical peril, social complexity, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Religious Persecution, Violence, Moral Complexity.
Thematically, The Power and the Glory explores faith, courage, redemption, political oppression, and classics — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about faith, courage, redemption.
Maybe not for
- ! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
- ! Children younger than 13+ — the content intensity is above what most younger kids can process comfortably.
- ! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11IE — Intense — EmotionalHeavy themes explored in depth. War, death, abuse addressed directly.
Content Flags
Was our "Intense" 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
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780785758426
- Pages
- 221
- Publisher
- Turtleback Books
- Published
- October 1999
- Type
- Fiction