What reading level is The secret of the Desert Stone?

The secret of the Desert Stone by Frank E. Peretti is at a Level 5-6 reading level. Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is The secret of the Desert Stone appropriate for?

The secret of the Desert Stone is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 10LP (Light — Physical). Content flags: Mild Peril, Religious Themes, Fantasy Violence.

What genre is The secret of the Desert Stone?

The secret of the Desert Stone is fiction — Juvenile Fiction. Part of the Cooper Kids Adventure series.

Does The secret of the Desert Stone have any content warnings?

The secret of the Desert Stone has a HootRating of 10LP (Light — Physical). Content flags include: Mild Peril, Religious Themes, Fantasy Violence. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is The secret of the Desert Stone?

The secret of the Desert Stone by Frank E. Peretti is 156 pages (approximately 36,329 words).

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

The secret of the Desert Stone

Frank E. Peretti

The secret of the Desert Stone

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Frank E. Peretti

Cooper Kids Adventure

Reading Level 5-6 10LP 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.

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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 10LP

The secret of the Desert Stone is written at a Level 5-6 reading level across 156 pages (approximately 36,329 words). Strong independent readers around grade 6.8 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The secret of the Desert Stone works for readers up to grade 7.8.

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 10LP ("Light — 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.