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A-haunting we will go

Lee Bennett Hopkins

Cover of A-haunting we will go

A-haunting we will go

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

Ghostly Stories and Poems

by Lee Bennett Hopkins

Reading Level 4-5 9LE Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.

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About This Book

Here's a secret: some holidays hide spooky stories you’ve never heard before. From ghostly whispers to eerie encounters, these tales will send shivers down your spine—but that’s only the beginning.

Themes

Ghost storiesAmericanMulticulturalHoliday TraditionsShort stories

Quick Assessment

This anthology features a collection of ghost stories, essays, and poems centered around major U.S. and Canadian holidays. Suitable for readers aged 9-12, it offers a mix of spooky and festive content that explores cultural traditions through engaging fiction. The stories contain mild supernatural themes appropriate for middle-grade readers.

Why we rated A-haunting we will go 9LE

A-haunting we will go is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 128 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, A-haunting we will go works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate A-haunting we will go as 9LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.

No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.

Thematically, A-haunting we will go explores ghost stories, american, multicultural, holiday traditions, and short stories — 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.
  • Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
  • Kids drawn to stories about ghost stories, american, multicultural.

Maybe not for

  • ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.

For Parents

Content Intensity

9LE — Light — Emotional
Emotional
Light
Physical
Clear
Social
Clear
Thematic
Light

Light conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.

Data confidence: standard

Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

1/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

2/10

A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
4
Emotional Weight
4
Theme Richness
5
World Scope
1
Data Confidence
7

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Details

Book Length

128 pages
ISBN
0807533564
Pages
128
Publisher
A Whitman
Published
1977
Type
Fiction

Genres

Subjects

Ghost Stories, AmericanGhostsShort StoriesLiteratureCollectionsHolidaysPoetryAmerican Ghost StoriesJours FériésRomans Pour La JeunessePoésie Pour La Jeunesse