The secret of the flying saucer
Laurie Sutton
The secret of the flying saucer
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Laurie Sutton
Illustrated by Neely, Scott, illustrator
The text is written at a 4th 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
Have you ever wondered what you'd do if you found a UFO in the middle of a cornfield? The Scooby gang stumbles upon something out of this world during their road trip through Kansas. What secrets will you uncover as you choose their next move?
Quick Assessment
This interactive middle-grade fiction book invites readers aged 9-12 to engage with a mystery involving a UFO sighting in a Kansas cornfield. It encourages decision-making and critical thinking as children guide the characters through the investigation. The story is appropriate for this age group, with mild suspense and fantastical elements centered around human-alien encounters.
Why we rated The secret of the flying saucer 9LP
The secret of the flying saucer is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 105 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The secret of the flying saucer works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate The secret of the flying saucer as 9LP ("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.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, The secret of the flying saucer explores adventure, mystery, science & nature, fantasy world-building, 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about adventure, mystery, science & nature.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LP — Light — PhysicalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A 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
- 9781496504784
- Pages
- 105
- Publisher
- Capstone
- Published
- 2015
- Type
- Fiction