A death in the life
Dorothy Salisbury Davis
A death in the life
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Dorothy Salisbury Davis
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
Julie shuffles her tarot cards, whispering secrets in a shadowy Manhattan alley. Suddenly, a scream splits the night—someone's in trouble, and Julie’s caught right in the middle. Can she solve the mystery before danger finds her too?
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade mystery follows Julie Hayes, a young tarot reader who becomes entangled in a dangerous game involving the Mafia and the police in Manhattan. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story contains suspense and mild peril but avoids graphic content. Parents should note themes of crime and tension that provide thrilling but age-appropriate excitement.
Why we rated A death in the life 11MP
A death in the life is written at a Level 6 reading level across 246 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, A death in the life works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate A death in the life as 11MP ("Moderate — Physical") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from physical peril, thematic difficulty — 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 death in the life explores mystery, thriller & suspense, and adventure — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about mystery, thriller & suspense, adventure.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11MP — Moderate — PhysicalReal 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
3/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0684146606
- Pages
- 246
- Publisher
- Scribner
- Published
- 1976
- Type
- Fiction