Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

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Screenwise Verdict

This is the good stuff. Katherine Rundell writes middle-grade fantasy the way it should be written—imaginative, emotionally intelligent, and genuinely well-crafted. If your kid loved Percy Jackson, Harry Potter, or the first Impossible Creatures, this is an easy yes.

The world-building is rich without being overwhelming, the characters are compelling, and the themes of justice and courage land without being heavy-handed. Yes, there's violence—a king gets poisoned, there are dragon battles, castle break-ins—but it's all age-appropriate adventure peril, not trauma.

At 304 pages with a Lexile of 640L, it's a solid middle-grade read that will challenge without frustrating. The book itself is gorgeous (foil, embossing, stained edges), which makes it feel special and gift-worthy. The 4.7 Amazon rating and #1 NYT Bestseller status suggest kids and parents are both on board.

If you're looking for screen-free entertainment that actually enriches while it entertains, this is it. Just make sure they've read book 1 first.

Age Fit

This is squarely aimed at ages 10-14, the sweet spot for middle-grade fantasy readers who've graduated from early chapter books but aren't quite ready for YA. Common Sense Media and publishers agree on 10+, which feels right given the violence and thematic complexity. Strong readers at 9 could handle it; mature 15-year-olds might still enjoy it if they love the genre.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

82

Katherine Rundell writes with warmth and emotional intelligence. The story centers on friendship, courage, and justice—Anya's 'ravenous hunger for justice' is a great model for kids. There's a king poisoned (as the title suggests) and some violence in the form of dragon battles and castle infiltrations, but it's all handled in a middle-grade appropriate way. The tone is adventurous without being mean-spirited or cynical.

Imaginative

92

This is peak imaginative fantasy. A secret archipelago where all mythical creatures still exist? Dragons, sphinxes, castles, a bestiary of magical creatures, 50 illustrations including maps? Rundell is known for her lush, inventive world-building. The premise of waking up to find a dragon chewing on your face and being thrilled about it captures the joy of escapist fantasy perfectly. This is the kind of book that makes kids want to draw their own creatures and maps.

Safe

78

Common Sense Media rates it 10+, noting that poison is a big deal and a king is killed. There are daring rescue missions, dragon lairs, and 'death-defying plans.' For middle-grade fantasy, this is standard fare—think Percy Jackson or Harry Potter levels of peril. No sexual content, no profanity, no graphic gore. The violence is adventure-violence, not traumatic or gratuitous. Kids who pick up a book called 'The Poisoned King' know what they're getting into.

Enriching

85

Rundell is a serious writer—she's won major awards and writes with literary craft. The themes of justice, loyalty, and courage are woven throughout. Kids get exposure to mythology, complex vocabulary (Lexile 640L is solid middle-grade), and moral complexity. The New York Times called it offering 'magical thrills for young readers and adults alike,' which suggests depth beyond just plot. Plus, it's a sequel, so kids who loved the first book are building reading stamina and series commitment.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Katherine Rundell is a legitimately talented writer—this isn't just genre fluff, it's literary middle-grade with gorgeous prose and real emotional depth
The world-building is spectacular: a secret archipelago where ALL mythical creatures still exist, complete with maps, bestiaries, and 50 illustrations
Strong themes of justice, courage, and friendship without being preachy—Anya's character is compelling and kids will root for her
It's a #1 NYT bestseller and sequel to a beloved first book, so if your kid loved Impossible Creatures, this delivers more of what worked
The book itself is beautiful—foil, embossing, full-color endpapers, stained edges. It's a gift-worthy object that makes reading feel special

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What to Watch For

A king gets poisoned (shocking, given the title), and there's middle-grade level violence—dragon battles, castle infiltrations, death-defying plans. Nothing graphic, but not cozy
It's book 2 in a series, so ideally your kid has read Impossible Creatures first—jumping in here might be confusing
At 304 pages with a Lexile of 640L, it's a solid commitment for a 10-year-old. Great for building stamina, but reluctant readers might need encouragement

Conversation Starters

"If you could ride any mythical creature from the Archipelago, which would you pick and where would you go?"
"Anya has a 'ravenous hunger for justice.' What does justice mean to you? When have you felt like something was unfair and wanted to fix it?"
"Christopher wakes up to a dragon chewing on his face and is THRILLED. What would your reaction be? What's something scary that you'd actually be excited about?"
"The book talks about poison spreading through the Archipelago. What do you think that's a metaphor for? Can ideas or feelings 'poison' a place or group?"
"If you could invent your own mythical creature for the bestiary, what would it be and what powers would it have?"

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