Trolled
Bruce Coville
Trolled
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Bruce Coville
Illustrated by Kidby, Paul, illustrator
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
What if a seven-foot troll loved words so much that he couldn’t stand being teased in his own magical world? Imagine escaping to the human world and taking a secret job as a night watchman at Grand Central Terminal. But can Ned keep his troll identity hidden while facing new adventures and unexpected challenges?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fantasy follows Ned Thump, a troll who loves words and escapes from the Enchanted Realm to live among humans. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story combines humor, magic, and adventure with themes of acceptance and identity. Parents should know it contains light fantasy peril and imaginative scenarios typical of juvenile fiction.
Why we rated Trolled 11LE
Trolled is written at a Level 6 reading level across 276 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Trolled works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Trolled 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, Trolled explores humor, magic, adventure, secrets, and juvenile fiction — 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 humor, magic, adventure.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
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
3/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780385392600
- Pages
- 276
- Publisher
- Random House Books for Young Readers
- Published
- 2017
- Type
- Fiction