Being dead
Vivian Vande Velde
Being dead
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Vivian Vande Velde
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
I have a secret: some loves never die, even after two hundred years. Imagine a ghostly girl dripping wet, following you around, even though you didn’t hurt her. And what if a man could still dance with his wife, long after she’s gone? But that’s only the beginning.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This collection of supernatural short stories by Vivian Vande Velde blends horror and humor to explore themes of love, loss, and the afterlife. Suitable for middle-grade readers (ages 9-12), it contains spooky but not overly graphic content. Parents should note some eerie and unsettling scenes, but the stories balance fright with moving moments.
Why we rated Being dead 11ME
Being dead is written at a Level 6 reading level across 203 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Being dead works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Being dead as 11ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.
Thematically, Being dead explores supernatural, horror tales, friendship, family, and american occult 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.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about supernatural, horror tales, friendship.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780152049126
- Pages
- 203
- Publisher
- HarperCollins
- Published
- 2003
- Type
- Fiction