The trickster and the troll
Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve
The trickster and the troll
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve
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 gentle with no concerning themes.
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About This Book
Iktomi isn't just any trickster—he’s a clever spider who spins tales that can change the fate of trolls and humans alike. When a mischievous troll crosses his path, chaos and laughter unfold in ways no one expects. This story shows why wit and heritage can be the most powerful magic of all.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction weaves Lakota and Norwegian American folklore through the adventures of Iktomi, a legendary trickster figure, and a troll. It explores themes of cultural identity and heritage in an accessible way for ages 9 to 12. Parents can expect a story rich in multicultural elements and playful lessons about family roots without any intense content.
Why we rated The trickster and the troll 9C
The trickster and the troll is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 110 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The trickster and the troll works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate The trickster and the troll as 9C ("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 trickster and the troll explores multicultural, family, folklore, humor, and adventure — 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 multicultural, family, folklore.
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.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9C — ClearNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0803242611
- Pages
- 110
- Publisher
- University of Nebraska Press
- Published
- 1997
- Type
- Fiction