I picked this book to read aloud to my seven-year-old daughter, and my nine-year-old son ended up listening in and begging me to read more. I loved the book and didn't want to put it down. That being said, I did find that it is pretty violent for younger ages. It isn't overly graphic, but I would strongly caution it for younger ones. Also, there were about a half a dozen mild swear words and using God's name in vain a time or two that I had to skip over as I read aloud. Another parent reviewer cautioned about sexual behavior that isn't age appropriate, but there was absolutely nothing of this kind in the book at all. The captain once kissed Charlotte's gloved hand, and that is truly only thing of that nature in the book.