The secret of the Desert Stone

Name: The secret of the Desert Stone
Author: Frank E. Peretti
ISBN: 0849936438

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Frank E. Peretti

Cooper Kids Adventure

Reading Level 5-6 LP · Mild · Physical Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 5th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material. Its HootRating code, LP, means mild content, mostly physical.

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About This Book

When Jay and his sister Lila travel with their father to the small African country of Togwana, they uncover the amazing powers hidden within a strange stone. Their adventure leads them to discover mysterious supernatural events that challenge their faith and courage. Together, they learn about bravery and belief in a land full of wonder.

Themes

SupernaturalChristian LifeAdventure Multicultural

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 5-6 book with mild content intensity. Content themes include mild peril, religious themes, fantasy violence. Written for readers ages 9-12.

Why we rated The secret of the Desert Stone LP (Mild)

The secret of the Desert Stone is written at a Level 5-6 reading level across 156 pages (approximately 36,329 words). Reading-wise, most kids in grade 7 and up can manage The secret of the Desert Stone on their own; younger readers can enjoy it with a parent or teacher reading along.

Read aloud, The secret of the Desert Stone runs about 4 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.

We rate The secret of the Desert Stone as LP (Mild, mostly physical) 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.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mild Peril, Religious Themes, Fantasy Violence.

Thematically, The secret of the Desert Stone explores supernatural, christian life, adventure, and multicultural — 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 who like a steady plot with enough momentum to keep pages turning.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about supernatural, christian life, adventure.
✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there are 6 more books in the Cooper Kids Adventure series.

Maybe not for

! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.

For Parents

Content Intensity

LP · Mild · Physical

Emotional

Gentle

Physical

Mild ←

Social

Mild

Thematic

Gentle

Reading the HootRating code: the first letter is the content intensity (C = Gentle · L = Mild · M = Moderate · I = Intense · V = Very Intense); the second, when there is one, is the kind of content that drives it (E = Emotional · P = Physical · S = Social · T = Thematic). Reading level and age range are rated separately. How we rate

Light conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.