Trails of rage
Todhunter Ballard
Trails of rage
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Todhunter Ballard
The text is written at a 6th 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
Captain Jack Price isn’t just any soldier—he’s the only one who can stop a secret plan to capture Denver! When he’s captured by Confederates, the race against time begins. Can one man’s courage change the course of history?
Quick Assessment
Set during the Civil War, this historical mystery follows Captain Jack Price as he uncovers and tries to thwart a Confederate plot to seize Denver. Suitable for middle-grade readers, the story offers an engaging look at courage and strategy with mild wartime peril. The large type format makes it accessible for students needing easier-to-read text.
Why we rated Trails of rage 11LP
Trails of rage is written at a Level 6 reading level across 262 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Trails of rage works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Trails of rage as 11LP ("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, Trails of rage explores adventure, historical, and mystery — 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about adventure, historical, mystery.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11LP — Light — PhysicalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0816163510
- Pages
- 262
- Publisher
- G. K. Hall
- Published
- 1976
- Type
- Fiction