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Treasure Island

Robert Louis Stevenson

Cover of Treasure Island

Treasure Island

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Robert Louis Stevenson

Reading Level 6 11ME Ages 9-12 Matched

The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.

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About This Book

What if you found a treasure map that could lead you to untold riches? Imagine setting sail across the roaring seas, facing cunning pirates and mysterious dangers at every turn. Would you have the courage to claim the treasure before the villains do?

Quick Assessment

Treasure Island is a classic middle-grade adventure that follows young Jim Hawkins as he embarks on a perilous sea voyage to find buried treasure. The story features themes of bravery, friendship, and moral choices, with some mild peril and conflict involving pirates. Suitable for readers ages 9-12, this edition includes beautiful illustrations that enhance the timeless tale.

Why we rated Treasure Island 11ME

Treasure Island is written at a Level 6 reading level across 232 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Treasure Island works for readers up to grade 8.0.

We rate Treasure Island as 11ME ("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, physical peril — 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, Treasure Island explores adventure, friendship, family, historical, and fantasy world-building — 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 adventure, friendship, family.

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

11ME — Moderate — Emotional
Emotional
Moderate
Physical
Moderate
Social
Light
Thematic
Light

Real stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.

Data confidence: standard

Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

2/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

4/10

Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
5
Emotional Weight
6
Theme Richness
5
World Scope
1
Data Confidence
7

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Details

Book Length

232 pages
ISBN
9780866119580
Pages
232
Publisher
Playmore Publishers
Published
1989
Type
Fiction

Genres

Subjects

Buried TreasureAdventure StoriesPiratesSea StoriesCaribbean Area18th CenturyAdventure and AdventurersVoyages and TravelsTreasure Island