To Slay the Dragon (Passages Hi: Lo Novels: Contemporary)
Anne E. Schraff
To Slay the Dragon (Passages Hi: Lo Novels: Contemporary)
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Anne E. Schraff
The text is written at a 4th 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
Kathy’s heart races as the new boy suddenly appears behind her, watching her every move. Todd grabs her arm, whispering about secrets tied to a terrible accident from years ago. But who is this stranger—and what does he really want?
Quick Assessment
This young adult mystery follows Kathy and her boyfriend Todd as they uncover unsettling connections between a new arrival in town and a tragic incident from the past. Suitable for teens aged 13 to 18, the story includes themes of suspense and emotional tension. Parents should note the presence of mystery elements and references to past trauma but no graphic content.
Why we rated To Slay the Dragon (Passages Hi: Lo Novels: Contemporary) 9ME
To Slay the Dragon (Passages Hi: Lo Novels: Contemporary) is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 105 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, To Slay the Dragon (Passages Hi: Lo Novels: Contemporary) works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate To Slay the Dragon (Passages Hi: Lo Novels: Contemporary) as 9ME ("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 — 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, To Slay the Dragon (Passages Hi: Lo Novels: Contemporary) explores mystery, coming of age, and friendship — 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.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about mystery, coming of age, friendship.
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
9ME — 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
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780780737433
- Pages
- 105
- Publisher
- Perfection Learning
- Published
- August 1995
- Type
- Fiction