Wild roses
Jacques Ferron
Wild roses
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Story Followed by a Love Letter
by Jacques Ferron
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
The wind whips through the wild roses as a secret meeting unfolds in the shadowy forest. Suddenly, footsteps approach—who could it be? Everything changes in an instant, and the truth hangs in the balance.
Quick Assessment
Wild Roses by Jacques Ferron is a middle-grade fiction book suitable for ages 9-12, offering a captivating story that blends mystery and adventure. The narrative immerses readers in a vivid setting with engaging characters, written at a grade 4.5 reading level. Parents should know the book contains mild suspense but is appropriate for its intended age group.
Why we rated Wild roses 9LE
Wild roses is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 123 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Wild roses works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Wild roses as 9LE ("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, Wild roses explores adventure, mystery, and family — 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 adventure, mystery, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LE — 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
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0771031300
- Pages
- 123
- Publisher
- McClelland and Stewart
- Published
- 1976
- Type
- Fiction