The wind from Hastings
Morgan Llywelyn
The wind from Hastings
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Morgan Llywelyn
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
What if a queen vanished on the very day a great battle changed history forever? Imagine Edyth, caught between two kingdoms, Wales and England, and two kings she loved. What secrets does the wind from Hastings carry about her fate?
Quick Assessment
This historical fiction follows Edyth, wife of King Harold of England, who mysteriously disappears during the pivotal Battle of Hastings in 1066. Set in the Middle Ages, the story explores themes of loyalty, love, and political intrigue suitable for middle-grade readers. Parents should note the book includes historical battle events but handles them with moderate intensity appropriate for ages 9-12.
Why we rated The wind from Hastings 11ME
The wind from Hastings is written at a Level 6 reading level across 245 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The wind from Hastings works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate The wind from Hastings 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, physical peril, thematic difficulty — 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 wind from Hastings explores historical, family, adventure, coming of age, and romance — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers. Each of these themes is concrete enough to seed a real conversation, not just a moral lesson.
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, adventure.
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
5/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 039526474X
- Pages
- 245
- Publisher
- Tor Books
- Published
- 1978
- Type
- Fiction