The Sapphire Cutlass
Sharon Gosling
The Sapphire Cutlass
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Sharon Gosling
The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.
About This Book
What secrets hide deep in the Indian jungle aboard a ruby airship? Rémy, a daring ex-jewel thief and circus star, and her brother Thaddeus are chasing a mysterious treasure called the Sapphire Cutlass. But Rémy’s real quest is finding a twin brother she never knew she had—what will they discover before danger catches up?
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade adventure follows Rémy, a former jewel thief and circus performer, and her brother Thaddeus as they journey through the Indian jungle aboard an airship in search of a legendary treasure. The story explores themes of family, identity, and bravery, suitable for ages 9-12. Parents should note the presence of mild peril and adventurous challenges typical for this genre.
Why we rated The Sapphire Cutlass 12LE
The Sapphire Cutlass is written at a Level 7 reading level across 336 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The Sapphire Cutlass works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate The Sapphire Cutlass as 12LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, The Sapphire Cutlass explores adventure, family, historical, and friendship — 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 adventure, family, historical.
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
12LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
The diamond thief
Sharon Gosling
The diamond thief
Sharon Gosling
Sapphires
Eric Ethan
Sapphires
Eric Ethan
The ruby airship
Sharon Gosling
The ruby airship
Sharon Gosling
The Stolen Sapphire
Sarah Masters Buckey
The Stolen Sapphire
Sarah Masters Buckey
Secrets of Tamarind
Nadia Aguiar
Secrets of Tamarind
Nadia Aguiar
Cutlass in the snow
Elizabeth Shub
Cutlass in the snow
Elizabeth Shub
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781630790417
- Pages
- 336
- Publisher
- Switch Press, a Capstone imprint
- Published
- 2016
- Type
- Fiction