Tournament of time
Elaine Marie Alphin
Tournament of time
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Elaine Marie Alphin
The text is written at a 4th 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
What if the past wasn’t just history, but something you could see and feel? Jessica Copper moves to England and finds herself pulled toward a tiny church in York, where the mysterious spirits of the 'Princes in the Tower' are trapped inside stained glass windows. Can she uncover their story and help set them free?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade historical fiction follows Jessica Copper as she navigates life in England and encounters the haunting spirits of the 'Princes in the Tower' within a York church. The story explores themes of family, history, and prejudice with gentle supernatural elements suitable for ages 9-12. Parents should note the presence of ghostly themes and references to historical murder, presented in an age-appropriate way.
Why we rated Tournament of time 9LE
Tournament of time is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 125 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Tournament of time works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Tournament of time as 9LE ("Light — Emotional") 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, Tournament of time explores ghosts, family, prejudices, historical, and england — 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 ghosts, family, prejudices.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A 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
- 0964368307
- Pages
- 125
- Publisher
- Bluegrass Books
- Published
- 1994
- Type
- Fiction