Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated
Among the ghosts
Amber Benson
Among the ghosts
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Amber Benson
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material. Its HootRating code, LP, means mild content, mostly physical.
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About This Book
I have a secret: the New Newbridge Academy hides more than just old stories. When Noh arrives for the summer, she discovers ghostly kids near a burned-out dormitory—kids no one else can see. But that's only the beginning of a mystery that only she can solve.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Among the Ghosts follows Noh, a curious girl spending summer at a gothic academy where she encounters ghost children no one else can see. This middle-grade horror story blends friendship and mystery with light supernatural elements, suitable for ages 9-12. Parents should note mild spooky themes and ghostly encounters, but the story emphasizes courage and empathy.
Why we rated Among the ghosts LP (Mild)
Among the ghosts is written at a Level 6-7 reading level across 256 pages. Reading-wise, most kids in grade 8 and up can manage Among the ghosts on their own; younger readers can enjoy it with a parent or teacher reading along.
We rate Among the ghosts as LP (Mild, mostly physical) 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.
Thematically, Among the ghosts explores friendship, mystery, horror, social themes, and juvenile fiction — 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 friendship, mystery, horror.
Maybe not for
- ! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.
For Parents
Content Intensity
LP · Mild · PhysicalReading the HootRating code: the first letter is the content intensity (C = Gentle · L = Mild · M = Moderate · I = Intense · V = Very Intense); the second, when there is one, is the kind of content that drives it (E = Emotional · P = Physical · S = Social · T = Thematic). Reading level and age range are rated separately. How we rate
Light conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Content Flags
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781416994053
- Pages
- 256
- Publisher
- Aladdin
- Published
- 2011
- Type
- Fiction