Trick of the mind
Judy Waite
Trick of the mind
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Judy Waite
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
Here's a secret: Erin's heart is tangled in magic and mystery, and what she believes might just change everything she knows about love and loss. But that's only the beginning.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Trick of the Mind is a middle-grade fiction book that explores themes of young love, family challenges, and emotional struggles through a magical lens. Suitable for ages 9-12, it gently addresses complex interpersonal relationships and grief in an accessible way without graphic content.
Why we rated Trick of the mind 11LE
Trick of the mind is written at a Level 6 reading level across 263 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Trick of the mind works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Trick of the mind as 11LE ("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, Trick of the mind explores magic, family, interpersonal relations, emotional problems, and miracles — 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 magic, family, interpersonal relations.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11LE — 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
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0689870140
- Pages
- 263
- Publisher
- Simon and Schuster
- Published
- 2005
- Type
- Fiction