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A Terrifying Taste of Short & Shivery

Robert D. San Souci

Cover of A Terrifying Taste of Short & Shivery

A Terrifying Taste of Short & Shivery

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

Thirty Creepy Tales

by Robert D. San Souci

Illustrated by Lenny Wooden

Reading Level 5-6 10LE Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 5th 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

Dive into a collection of thirty spooky stories from around the globe that bring to life eerie creatures and mysterious hauntings. Each tale invites brave readers to explore creepy legends and unsettling encounters that will send shivers down your spine. With chilling illustrations enhancing the suspense, this book offers thrilling adventures perfect for young fans of ghostly tales.

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 5-6 book with mild content intensity. Content themes include mild peril, fantasy violence, fear & anxiety. Written for readers ages 9-12.

Why we rated A Terrifying Taste of Short & Shivery 10LE

A Terrifying Taste of Short & Shivery is written at a Level 5-6 reading level across 176 pages (approximately 29,931 words). Strong independent readers around grade 6.7 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, A Terrifying Taste of Short & Shivery works for readers up to grade 7.7.

Read aloud, A Terrifying Taste of Short & Shivery runs about 3.3 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.

We rate A Terrifying Taste of Short & Shivery as 10LE ("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.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mild Peril, Fantasy Violence, Fear & Anxiety.

Thematically, A Terrifying Taste of Short & Shivery explores adventure, mystery, and fantasy world-building — 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 adventure, mystery, fantasy world-building.

Maybe not for

  • ! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.

For Parents

Content Intensity

10LE — Light — Emotional
Emotional
Light
Physical
Light
Social
Clear
Thematic
Clear

Light conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.

Content Flags

Mild Peril Fantasy Violence Fear & Anxiety
Data confidence: standard

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

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

4/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

1/10

A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
5
Emotional Weight
4
Narrative Pace
5
Theme Richness
6
World Scope
1
Data Confidence
7

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Details

Book Length

176 pages
29,931 words
3h 20m read-aloud
ISBN
0385322550
Pages
176
Publisher
Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Published
September 12, 2000
Type
Fiction
Word Count
29,931
Read-Aloud
~3h 20m
Text Density
Standard

Genres