Tooth and Nail
Charles Harrington Elster
Tooth and Nail
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Novel Approach to the New SAT
by Charles Harrington Elster
The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.
We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.
About This Book
What if solving a mystery could also boost your vocabulary? Imagine diving into a thrilling story packed with secret codes and clever clues, where every bold word is a new challenge. Can you crack the case and conquer the tricky words hidden in the pages?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Tooth and Nail is a unique young adult mystery novel designed to build SAT vocabulary through an engaging story. It features hundreds of bolded vocabulary words, accompanied by a glossary, sample test, and study tips, making it both entertaining and educational for teens ages 13 to 18. The book is appropriate for middle to high school readers and combines fiction with practical learning tools.
Why we rated Tooth and Nail 12C
Tooth and Nail is written at a Level 7 reading level across 368 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Tooth and Nail works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Tooth and Nail as 12C ("Clear") because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.
Thematically, Tooth and Nail explores mystery, study guides, education, young adult fiction, and vocabulary building — 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, study guides, education.
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
12C — ClearNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" 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
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
Tooth truth
Jennifer Storey Gillis
Tooth truth
Jennifer Storey Gillis
NTC vocabulary builders
McGraw-Hill
NTC vocabulary builders
McGraw-Hill
Riddle of Teeth
Winifred G. Hammond
Riddle of Teeth
Winifred G. Hammond
Houghton Mifflin spelling and vocabulary
Shane Templeton
Houghton Mifflin spelling and vocabulary
Shane Templeton
Word Study, Grades 6-7
Jenny Nitert
Word Study, Grades 6-7
Jenny Nitert
Teeth
Henry Arthur Pluckrose
Teeth
Henry Arthur Pluckrose
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780785737971
- Pages
- 368
- Publisher
- Turtleback Books
- Published
- October 1999
- Type
- Fiction