What reading level is The Walls of Cartagena?

The Walls of Cartagena by Julia Durango is at a Level 4-5 reading level. Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is The Walls of Cartagena appropriate for?

The Walls of Cartagena is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9ME (Moderate — Emotional).

What genre is The Walls of Cartagena?

The Walls of Cartagena is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does The Walls of Cartagena have any content warnings?

The Walls of Cartagena has a HootRating of 9ME (Moderate — Emotional). No specific content flags noted. 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 Walls of Cartagena?

The Walls of Cartagena by Julia Durango is 112 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated June 9, 2026

The Walls of Cartagena

Julia Durango

The Walls of Cartagena

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Julia Durango

Illustrated by Tom Pohrt

Reading Level 4-5 9ME Ages 9-12 Matched

A Junior Library Guild selection

The text is written at a 4th 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

The salty sea air stings Calepino’s nose as he battles waves and seasickness on a ship bound for Cartagena. Every creak of the wooden deck tells a story of hope and hardship, while the cries of the enslaved echo in his ears. When he meets Mara and Tomi, memories of his own past flood back, pulling him into a dangerous quest that could change their lives forever.

Themes

Historical FamilyFreedomAdventure Friendship

Quick Assessment

Set in historical Cartagena, this middle-grade novel follows Calepino, a boy born on a slave ship and raised by a wealthy woman, who faces harsh realities when asked to help with newly arrived slaves. The story explores themes of freedom, family, and courage, with some scenes depicting the brutal conditions of slavery and the emotional weight of loss. Recommended for ages 9-12, it offers a sensitive yet realistic portrayal of a complex historical period.

Why we rated The Walls of Cartagena 9ME

The Walls of Cartagena is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 112 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The Walls of Cartagena works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate The Walls of Cartagena as 9ME ("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, physical peril, social complexity — 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 Walls of Cartagena explores historical, family, freedom, adventure, 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.
✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about historical, family, freedom.
✓ Readers (and parents) who care about award-recognized writing — The Walls of Cartagena carries an award.

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.