Mission: Science Books in Order
4 books by William B. Rice. Reading level: Grades 5.1–6. Middle Grades (Ages 9–12).
Series books grow with readers — but that's also the trap. Most series start at one reading level and one content intensity and drift upward over the course of the run. Mission: Science (4 books by William B. Rice) lands at reading level Grades 5.1–6, with average content intensity 1/5. Intensity stays consistent across the series — a kid who can handle the first book can generally handle the rest.
The reading-order table below lists every book with per-volume reading level and intensity badges so you can spot any escalation before it catches your reader off guard. For a deeper dive into how we score text difficulty vs. emotional weight separately — and why series readers especially benefit from that split — see our methodology page.
Content Intensity Across the Series
ConsistentContent stays at a steady intensity level throughout the series.
Mission: Science Reading Order
| # | Title | Reading Level | Content |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Inside the water cycle William B. Rice | Level 5-6 | Gentle |
| 2 | Matter Jane Weir | Level 5-6 | Gentle |
| 3 | Rocks and minerals William B. Rice | Level 6 | Gentle |
| 4 | The world of plants Michael L. Macceca | Level 5-6 | Gentle |
All Mission: Science Books
Inside the water cycle
William B. Rice
Inside the water cycle
William B. Rice
Matter
Jane Weir
Matter
Jane Weir
Rocks and minerals
William B. Rice
Rocks and minerals
William B. Rice
The world of plants
Michael L. Macceca
The world of plants
Michael L. Macceca
Questions about the Mission: Science series
- What reading level is the Mission: Science series?
- The Mission: Science series by William B. Rice is at a Grades 5.1–6 reading level (average Grade 5.7). Intended for Middle Grades (Ages 9–12). There are 4 books in the series.
- What order should I read the Mission: Science books?
- The reading-order table above lists all 4 books with per-volume reading level and intensity ratings. Start with book 1 and read in publication order unless the table indicates a different recommended order for newer readers.
- What age is the Mission: Science series appropriate for?
- The Mission: Science series is recommended for Middle Grades (Ages 9–12). The average content intensity is 1/5. Check the intensity trajectory above to see whether content gets heavier across the series — if it does, sensitive readers may want to stop earlier in the run.