Attack of the Jack
Robert Lawrence Stine
Attack of the Jack
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Goosebumps SlappyWorld #2
by Robert Lawrence Stine
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
Have you ever wondered what happens when a creepy pirate puppet comes to life? Devin and Violet find an old trunk chained up tight, filled with mysterious jack-in-the-boxes. But when a scary pirate puppet named Sailor Jack springs out, the summer takes a spooky turn—what will happen next?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction book follows siblings Devin and Violet as they visit their uncle's seaside home and uncover a locked trunk filled with antique jack-in-the-boxes. When one puppet, Sailor Jack, comes to life, the children face eerie and suspenseful situations. Appropriate for ages 9-12, the story contains mild spooky themes suitable for readers who enjoy gentle thrills.
Why we rated Attack of the Jack 9LE
Attack of the Jack is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 160 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Attack of the Jack works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Attack of the Jack 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, Attack of the Jack explores adventure, mystery, performing arts, 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, performing arts.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781407195742
- Pages
- 160
- Publisher
- Goosebumps Slappyworld
- Published
- Feb 07, 2019
- Type
- Fiction