A Candidate for Murder
Joan Lowery Nixon
A Candidate for Murder
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Joan Lowery Nixon
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
Cary’s phone rings again—it's the middle of the night, and the voice on the other end sends chills down her spine. Someone is watching her every move as her father campaigns to become governor. But when secrets start unraveling, how far will Cary have to go to uncover the truth—and stay alive?
Quick Assessment
This young adult mystery follows Cary, whose life turns tense and dangerous when her father runs for governor of Texas. She experiences stalking and uncovers political secrets, making it suitable for teens comfortable with suspense and mild peril. Themes include political intrigue and social issues, with no graphic violence or mature content.
Why we rated A Candidate for Murder 11ME
A Candidate for Murder is written at a Level 6 reading level across 210 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, A Candidate for Murder works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate A Candidate for Murder as 11ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, physical peril — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.
Thematically, A Candidate for Murder explores mystery, espionage, political intrigue, suspense, and family — 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 mystery, espionage, political intrigue.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780833584274
- Pages
- 210
- Publisher
- Turtleback Books
- Published
- October 1999
- Type
- Fiction