What reading level is The slave dancer?

The slave dancer by Paula Fox is at a Level 4-5 reading level. Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is The slave dancer appropriate for?

The slave dancer is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9IE (Intense — Emotional). Content flags: Kidnapping, Slavery, Emotional Distress.

What genre is The slave dancer?

The slave dancer is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does The slave dancer have any content warnings?

The slave dancer has a HootRating of 9IE (Intense — Emotional). Content flags include: Kidnapping, Slavery, Emotional Distress. 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 slave dancer?

The slave dancer by Paula Fox is 192 pages.

The slave dancer

Paula Fox

The slave dancer

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Paula Fox

Reading Level 4-5 9IE Ages 9-12 Heads Up

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 intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes.

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About This Book

The salty spray of the sea fills your nose, and the creak of wooden boards groans beneath your feet. Suddenly, harsh voices and uneasy whispers ripple through the air as you realize the ship is carrying more than just cargo—it holds people taken from their homes. The music you play becomes a haunting rhythm for a terrible journey, and every note weighs heavy on your heart.

Themes

HistoricalAfrican AmericanComing of Age Social Justice Adventure

Quick Assessment

This historical fiction novel follows a thirteen-year-old boy who is kidnapped and forced aboard a slave ship, where he must play music to control the enslaved people during their grueling journey. The book provides a sobering look at the horrors of the transatlantic slave trade and is appropriate for middle-grade readers aged 9-12, though parents should be aware of its serious themes involving kidnapping and human suffering.

For Parents

Content Intensity

9IE — Intense — Emotional

Emotional

Intense ←

Physical

Moderate

Social

Intense

Thematic

Moderate

Heavy themes explored in depth. War, death, abuse addressed directly.

Content Flags

Kidnapping Slavery Emotional Distress

Data confidence: standard

Was our "Intense" content intensity rating accurate for this book?

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

2/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

4/10

Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level

Emotional Weight

Theme Richness

World Scope

Data Confidence

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Details

Book Length

192 pages

ISBN: 9780689845055
Pages: 192
Publisher: Atheneum/Richard Jackson Books
Published: 2008
Type: Fiction

Genres

Juvenile Fiction

Subjects

People & PlacesUnited StatesAfrican AmericanHistorical19th CenturySlave TradeNewbery MedalReadingComputer-assisted InstructionLarge Type BooksSlavesSlaveryMusiciansDancersSlave ShipsTransatlantic VoyagesSea StoriesHistorical FictionSpanish Language MaterialsTrata De EsclavosNovela JuvenilMuchachosDance