Buzz Kill

Name: Buzz Kill
Author: Beth Fantaskey
ISBN: 9780547393100

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Beth Fantaskey

Reading Level 6 MP · Moderate · Physical Ages 13+ Matched

The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes. Its HootRating code, MP, means moderate content, mostly physical.

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About This Book

Seventeen-year-old Millie teams up with the intriguing Chase Colton to solve the shocking murder of their school's beloved football coach, Hollerin' Hank Killdare. Their investigation uncovers secrets that challenge their courage and friendship as they race to reveal the truth. Suspense and mystery keep readers hooked until the very end.

Themes

Mystery Friendship Coming of Age

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 6 book with moderate content intensity. Content themes include profanity, sexual references, violence. Written for readers ages 13+.

Why we rated Buzz Kill MP (Moderate)

Buzz Kill is written at a Level 6 reading level across 368 pages (approximately 77,391 words). Upper Grades (Ages 13+) is the typical interest range for this book — readers in that age band have the maturity and attention span suited to the story, separate from whether they can decode the words.

Read aloud, Buzz Kill runs about 8.6 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.

We rate Buzz Kill as MP (Moderate, mostly physical) because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from physical peril — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Profanity, Sexual References, Violence.

Thematically, Buzz Kill explores mystery, friendship, and coming of age — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.

Good fit for

✓ Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about mystery, friendship, coming of age.

Maybe not for

! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.

For Parents

Content Intensity

MP · Moderate · Physical

Emotional

Gentle

Physical

Moderate ←

Social

Gentle

Thematic

Gentle

Reading 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

Real stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.