We built this city
Matt London
We built this city
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Matt London
The text is written at a 4th 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
Rick and Evie are the ultimate inventors, creating a city like no other—until a terrifying weapon threatens to turn their dream into trash. This isn't just any battle; it's a fight for the future of their world. What will they do when everything they’ve built starts to crumble?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction follows siblings Rick and Evie as they use their inventive skills to build a futuristic city, only to face challenges from a dangerous weapon that pollutes and destroys. The story explores themes of creativity, environmental awareness, and sibling teamwork, suitable for readers aged 9-12. Parents should note the presence of mild peril related to pollution and invention conflicts.
Why we rated We built this city 9LT
We built this city is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 190 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, We built this city works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate We built this city as 9LT ("Light — Thematic") 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, We built this city explores robots, marine pollution, brothers and sisters, inventors, and adventure — 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 robots, marine pollution, brothers and sisters.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LT — Light — ThematicLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A 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
- 9781595148407
- Pages
- 190
- Publisher
- Razorbill
- Published
- 2016
- Type
- Fiction