What reading level is Woodford Brave?

Woodford Brave by Marcia Thornton Jones is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 780L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Woodford Brave appropriate for?

Woodford Brave is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9ME (Moderate — Emotional).

What genre is Woodford Brave?

Woodford Brave is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does Woodford Brave have any content warnings?

Woodford Brave has a HootRating of 9ME (Moderate — Emotional). No specific content flags noted. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Woodford Brave?

Woodford Brave by Marcia Thornton Jones is 192 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

Woodford Brave

Marcia Thornton Jones

Woodford Brave

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Marcia Thornton Jones

Illustrated by Whipple, Kevin, illustrator

Reading Level 4-5 9ME Ages 9-12 Matched

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.

Find on Amazon Listen on Audible

We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.

About This Book

What does it really mean to be brave? Eleven-year-old Cory Woodford wants to prove himself just like his heroic family, but this summer isn't just about go-carts and baseball—it's about uncovering secret spies and facing tough choices. When the lines between right and wrong blur, can Cory find the courage to do what's truly right?

Themes

CourageWorld War IIHistorical FictionFriendship Coming of Age Family

Quick Assessment

Set during World War II, this historical fiction novel follows eleven-year-old Cory as he navigates friendship, family expectations, and the challenges of growing up while searching for Nazi spies. Suitable for ages 9-12, it thoughtfully explores themes of courage, moral complexity, and personal growth without graphic content. The book includes an author's note and bibliography to enrich understanding of the era.

Why we rated Woodford Brave 9ME

Woodford Brave is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 780L across 192 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Woodford Brave works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate Woodford Brave 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, Woodford Brave explores courage, world war ii, historical fiction, friendship, 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 courage, world war ii, historical fiction.

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.