The Silvery Past
Candice F. Ransom
The Silvery Past
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Candice F. Ransom
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.
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About This Book
Here’s a secret: Tyler James thought moving from the big city to a quiet town would be boring. But then he discovers an abandoned merry-go-round with a strange past—and that’s only the beginning.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade mystery follows Tyler James as he adjusts to life in a small Chesapeake Bay town and unravels the secrets behind a deserted merry-go-round. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story explores themes of adolescence and curiosity without any intense content, making it a great choice for young readers interested in detective stories.
Why we rated The Silvery Past 11C
The Silvery Past is written at a Level 6 reading level across 203 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The Silvery Past works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate The Silvery Past as 11C ("Clear") because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.
Thematically, The Silvery Past explores mystery, adolescence, 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 mystery, adolescence, friendship.
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
11C — ClearNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A 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
- 9780590325141
- Pages
- 203
- Publisher
- Scholastic Paperbacks
- Published
- January 1983
- Type
- Fiction