Age rating and parents' guide:The Letter for the King
by Tonke Dragt
Ages 8–12
The Letter for the King by Tonke Dragt is best for children aged 8–12. It has moderate violence, a few mildly scary moments, no romance and no bad language. Worth knowing: Sword fights; a knight is killed.
The night before he is knighted, sixteen-year-old Tiuri answers a cry for help and is handed a secret letter. Carrying it to a king across mountains and forests, he is chased by enemies who want it destroyed. Invites children to talk about keeping promises and doing the right thing.
Content ratings
How much of each a parent can expect, from none to strong.
- Violence
- Moderate
- Scary moments
- Mild
- Romance
- None
- Bad language
- None
Worth knowing: Sword fights; a knight is killed
Content checked by Dhiraj Bodade, co-founder of Bookstaken, on .
At a glance
- Novel
Reading mood
- Adventurous
Books like The Letter for the King
Similar stories for the same ages, none more intense than this one should be for its youngest readers.
Ages 8–12
Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow
by Jessica Townsend
Morrigan Crow is cursed, blamed for every bad thing in her town, and doomed to die on her eleventh birthday. Instead, a stranger whisks her away to the magical city of Nevermoor and enters her in trials for its most important society. Invites children to talk about belonging and believing in yourself.
Ages 9–11
A Wolf Called Wander
by Rosanne Parry
Swift is a young wolf pup living happily with his pack in the mountains until a rival pack attacks, scattering his family and leaving him alone. Forced to flee, he embarks on an epic, perilous journey across a thousand miles of wilderness to find a new home. Encourages gentle, guided conversations about challenging feelings and experiences.
Ages 9–11
The Land of Stories
by Chris Colfer
After losing their father, twins Alex and Conner receive a cherished fairy-tale book from their grandmother that unexpectedly acts as a portal into a magical realm. Encourages gentle, guided conversations about challenging feelings and experiences.
Ages 9–11
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
by E.L. Konigsburg
Claudia Kincaid decides to run away from home to teach her family a lesson in appreciating her, choosing the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City as her hideout. She brings along her frugal younger brother, Jamie, to manage their money. Invites children to imagine, create, and share ideas of their own.
Ages 9–11
George's Secret Key to the Universe
by Lucy & Stephen Hawking
George's pet pig escapes into the next-door garden, leading him to meet his eccentric neighbor Eric and Eric's daughter Annie. Eric owns Cosmos, an incredible supercomputer capable of opening doorways into outer space. Offers space for thoughtful conversations about empathy and difficult choices.
Ages 9–12
The Swiss Family Robinson
by Johann David Wyss
Shipwrecked on an unknown island, a Swiss pastor, his wife and their four sons build a new life from what they can save and find. They make a treehouse, tame animals and turn the island into a home. Invites children to think about what they would need, and do, to survive.
A good book is the start. A mentor makes it stick.
In a free 1:1 session, a trained Bookstaken mentor reads with your child, asks what they think and helps the reading habit last.
Questions parents ask
Q: What age is The Letter for the King for?
Q: Is The Letter for the King appropriate for a 8 year old?
Q: What should my child read after The Letter for the King?
Love books yourself? Get paid to read with kids as a Bookbuddy