The secret of the Strawbridge Place
Helen Pierce Jacob
The secret of the Strawbridge Place
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Helen Pierce Jacob
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
Have you ever wondered what hidden stories lie behind the creaky doors of an old house? Two friends dive into the mystery of Strawbridge Place, a house whispered to be part of the Underground Railroad. But when one friend suddenly vanishes, the secret becomes more urgent than ever.
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade mystery follows two friends investigating an old house believed to be a station on the Underground Railroad. The story touches on themes of friendship, history, and suspense, with an age-appropriate level of intrigue and mild peril suitable for readers ages 9-12. Parents should note the disappearance plot point, which adds tension but is handled with sensitivity.
Why we rated The secret of the Strawbridge Place 11ME
The secret of the Strawbridge Place is written at a Level 6 reading level across 211 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The secret of the Strawbridge Place works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate The secret of the Strawbridge Place as 11ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.
Thematically, The secret of the Strawbridge Place explores mystery, friendship, and historical — 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 mystery, friendship, historical.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" 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
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0689305044
- Pages
- 211
- Publisher
- Atheneum Books
- Published
- 1976
- Type
- Fiction