World Behind the Door
Mike Resnick
World Behind the Door
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
An Encounter with Salvador Dali
by Mike Resnick
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.
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About This Book
What if a famous painting held the secret to another universe? Imagine stepping through Salvador Dali's melting clocks and discovering a world where science and art collide in the most unexpected way. But unlocking this mystery might change everything you thought you knew about reality.
Quick Assessment
This science fiction novel explores the intriguing connection between Salvador Dali's iconic painting, The Persistence of Memory, and concepts from quantum physics. Suitable for teens aged 13 to 18, it blends art and science in a thought-provoking story that encourages curiosity and critical thinking. The content is appropriate for middle to high school readers, with no intense themes or content warnings.
Why we rated World Behind the Door 9LT
World Behind the Door is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 144 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, World Behind the Door works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate World Behind the Door as 9LT ("Light — Thematic") because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.
Thematically, World Behind the Door explores science & nature, fantasy world-building, art, and coming of age — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about science & nature, fantasy world-building, art.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LT — Light — ThematicNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A 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
- 9780823004164
- Pages
- 144
- Publisher
- Watson-Guptill
- Published
- August 7, 2007
- Type
- Fiction