Touch and go
C. Northcote Parkinson
Touch and go
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by C. Northcote Parkinson
The text is written at a 8th 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 salty sea air fills your lungs as the wooden ship creaks and groans under the weight of history. Cannons thunder in the distance, and the waves crash fiercely against the hull, carrying stories of daring sailors and battles long past. Amidst the chaos of the Napoleonic Wars, a young hero must navigate the stormy seas and his own uncertain fate.
Quick Assessment
Set during the Napoleonic Wars, this historical fiction follows Richard Delancey, a young naval officer from Guernsey, as he experiences adventure and conflict on the high seas. Suitable for middle-grade readers aged 9-12, the book introduces themes of history, naval warfare, and personal growth without graphic violence or mature content. Parents should note the historical setting includes battle scenes typical of the era but handled in an age-appropriate manner.
Why we rated Touch and go 12LP
Touch and go is written at a Level 8 reading level across 523 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 9.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Touch and go works for readers up to grade 10.0.
We rate Touch and go 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, Touch and go explores historical, adventure, coming of age, family, and naval — 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.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about historical, adventure, coming of age.
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
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0816165920
- Pages
- 523
- Publisher
- Macmillan Reference USA
- Published
- 1978
- Type
- Fiction