With a Wave of the Wand
Mark Jonathan Harris
With a Wave of the Wand
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Mark Jonathan Harris
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
Here's a secret: Marlee has a magic wand that might just fix her broken family. She waves it with hope, trying to bring her parents back together. But that's only the beginning of her magical adventure.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction follows Marlee, an almost twelve-year-old girl navigating her parents' separation. The story gently explores themes of divorce and family change, with a touch of magic that encourages hope and resilience. Suitable for readers aged 9-12, it offers a sensitive look at adjustment during family transitions.
Why we rated With a Wave of the Wand 9ME
With a Wave of the Wand is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 198 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, With a Wave of the Wand works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate With a Wave of the Wand 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 — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Divorce & Family Change, Emotional: Fear & Anxiety.
Thematically, With a Wave of the Wand explores divorce & family change, coming of age, family, and fantasy world-building — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers. Each of these themes is concrete enough to seed a real conversation, not just a moral lesson.
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 divorce & family change, coming of age, family.
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.
Content Flags
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
5/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780590407014
- Pages
- 198
- Publisher
- Scholastic Paperbacks
- Published
- September 1986
- Type
- Fiction