Beautiful goodbye
Nancy Runstedler
Beautiful goodbye
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Nancy Runstedler
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
What if a simple game could send you spinning back in time? When Maggie and her friends find an old Ouija board, they expect just a little fun, not a leap into 1915 during wartime. Now, caught between past and present, can they help a restless spirit before it's too late?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows three children who discover an old Ouija board that transports them back to 1915 during wartime. The story explores themes of friendship, courage, and history, suitable for ages 9-12. While the supernatural elements and time travel add excitement, the book handles these gently without intense scares.
Why we rated Beautiful goodbye 9LE
Beautiful goodbye is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 129 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Beautiful goodbye works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Beautiful goodbye 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, Beautiful goodbye explores friendship, adventure, supernatural, historical, and time travel — 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 friendship, adventure, supernatural.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
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
2/10A 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
- 9781459705555
- Pages
- 129
- Publisher
- Dundurn
- Published
- 2013
- Type
- Fiction