Thisby Thestoop and the black mountain
Zac Gorman
Thisby Thestoop and the black mountain
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Zac Gorman
The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
The sharp scent of troll meat fills the damp air as Thisby Thestoop navigates the shadowy Black Mountain Dungeon. Surrounded by snarling minotaurs and fluttering wyverns, she must protect a lost princess deep within the maze of monsters and magic. Trust and bravery will be their only guides through this wild and dangerous adventure.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fantasy follows Thisby Thestoop, a gamekeeper who must guide a missing princess through a perilous dungeon filled with mythical creatures. A story of friendship, bravery, and trust, it offers an exciting adventure suitable for ages 9-12, with mild peril and fantasy violence presented in an accessible way.
Why we rated Thisby Thestoop and the black mountain 12LP
Thisby Thestoop and the black mountain is written at a Level 7 reading level across 318 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Thisby Thestoop and the black mountain works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Thisby Thestoop and the black mountain as 12LP ("Light — Physical") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, Thisby Thestoop and the black mountain explores friendship, adventure, fantasy world-building, female friendship, and rescue — 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 friendship, adventure, fantasy world-building.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12LP — Light — PhysicalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780062495679
- Pages
- 318
- Publisher
- HarperCollins
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction