The Zeppelin Deception
Colleen Gleason
The Zeppelin Deception
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Stoker & Holmes Book
by Colleen Gleason
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
Here’s a secret: Mina Holmes is about to be arrested for a crime she didn’t commit, and Evaline Stoker’s wedding plans are anything but ordinary. Shadows lurk behind grand parties and mysterious invitations as a black zeppelin floats ominously above. But that’s only the beginning.
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fantasy adventure follows Mina Holmes and Evaline Stoker as they navigate mystery, danger, and friendship in Victorian England. With themes of loyalty and courage, the story contains mild peril and some suspenseful moments suitable for readers ages 9-12. Parents should note the book includes references to crime and social pressures typical of the genre and time period.
Why we rated The Zeppelin Deception 11ME
The Zeppelin Deception is written at a Level 6 reading level across 296 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The Zeppelin Deception works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate The Zeppelin Deception 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 — 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 Zeppelin Deception explores adventure, mystery, friendship, fantasy world-building, and coming of age — 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 adventure, mystery, friendship.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
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
3/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781944665876
- Pages
- 296
- Publisher
- A Stoker and Holmes Novel
- Published
- 2022
- Type
- Fiction