This present darkness
Frank E. Peretti
This present darkness
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Frank E. Peretti
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
In a quiet town, a curious journalist and a devoted pastor join forces to uncover a sinister New Age scheme threatening to enslave their community and beyond. Their investigation reveals hidden dangers that challenge their beliefs and courage. Together, they must confront dark forces to protect their world from an overwhelming evil.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 6-7 book with moderate content intensity. Content themes include fear & anxiety, religious themes, social conflict. Written for readers ages 13+.
Why we rated This present darkness 11ME
This present darkness is written at a Level 6-7 reading level across 375 pages (approximately 156,889 words). Strong independent readers around grade 7.1 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, This present darkness works for readers up to grade 8.1.
Read aloud, This present darkness runs about 17.4 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.
We rate This present darkness 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, social complexity — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Fear & Anxiety, Religious Themes, Social Conflict.
Thematically, This present darkness explores mystery, adventure, social justice, and religion — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about mystery, adventure, social justice.
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.
Content Flags
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
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0891073906
- Pages
- 375
- Publisher
- Crossway Books
- Published
- 1986
- Type
- Fiction
- Word Count
- 156,889
- Read-Aloud
- ~17h 26m
- Text Density
- Very Dense