THE WORLD IS ROUND (del Rey Book)
Tony Rothman
THE WORLD IS ROUND (del Rey Book)
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Tony Rothman
The text is written at a 8th 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 scorching sun blazes down on a planet where a single day lasts an entire year, and freezing cold can strike without warning. Imagine walking across a world so strange it has no moon, no normal seasons, and creatures whose moods shift as wildly as the weather. Paddelack is stuck there, desperate to escape, but when a daring crew arrives looking for lost treasures, his adventure takes a thrilling and dangerous turn.
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade science fiction novel follows Paddelack, who is trapped on a vast, alien planet with extreme weather and unpredictable natives. The story explores themes of survival, adventure, and the challenges of an unfamiliar world, suitable for readers aged 9-12. Parents should note the presence of tense situations involving danger and conflict, but no graphic content.
Why we rated THE WORLD IS ROUND (del Rey Book) 12ME
THE WORLD IS ROUND (del Rey Book) is written at a Level 8 reading level across 464 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 9.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, THE WORLD IS ROUND (del Rey Book) works for readers up to grade 10.0.
We rate THE WORLD IS ROUND (del Rey Book) as 12ME ("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 — 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 WORLD IS ROUND (del Rey Book) explores adventure, science & nature, and survival — 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 adventure, science & nature, survival.
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
12ME — 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
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780345272133
- Pages
- 464
- Publisher
- Del Rey
- Published
- June 12, 1978
- Type
- Fiction