Very far from here
Dennis Hamley
Very far from here
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Dennis Hamley
The text is written at a 4th 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
Eddy and Jim stand at the edge of Harold's Bay, eyes glued to the football match while whispers of war float around them. Two mysterious strangers have appeared in their village, one with a locked cycle shop and a strange accent, the other sharing a chilling vision of betrayal and invasion. As tension tightens, are enemy spies lurking nearby—and can the boys uncover the truth before it’s too late?
Quick Assessment
Set in April 1914, this historical fiction follows two boys in a seaside village just before the outbreak of World War I. The story explores themes of suspicion, community, and the impact of war on families, suitable for middle grade readers aged 9-12. Parents should note the book touches on war-related fears and the presence of spies, but handles these themes with appropriate sensitivity for its age group.
Why we rated Very far from here 9ME
Very far from here is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 188 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Very far from here works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Very far from here as 9ME ("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, thematic difficulty — 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, Very far from here explores friendship, historical, adventure, and coming of age — 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 friendship, historical, adventure.
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
9ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0233967559
- Pages
- 188
- Publisher
- Deutsch
- Published
- 1976
- Type
- Fiction