Curse of the Bony Fingers
Nathan Page
Curse of the Bony Fingers
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
The witch's hand. Vol. 1
by Nathan Page
The text is written at a 7th 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
What if your own shadow started to act on its own? Imagine twins who discover a mysterious curse that brings their cartoons to life—except these aren't just any drawings. Strange, bony fingers reach out from the pages, and suddenly, nothing is as safe as it seems.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fantasy novel follows twin siblings as they unravel a supernatural curse linked to their cartoon drawings. Suitable for ages 9-12, it explores themes of sibling bonds and the eerie consequences of magic, with some mild suspense and spooky elements. Parents should note the presence of supernatural themes that might be intense for very sensitive readers.
Why we rated Curse of the Bony Fingers 12MT
Curse of the Bony Fingers is written at a Level 7 reading level across 352 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Curse of the Bony Fingers works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Curse of the Bony Fingers as 12MT ("Moderate — Thematic") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from thematic difficulty — 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, Curse of the Bony Fingers explores supernatural, brothers and sisters, twins, adventure, 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.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about supernatural, brothers and sisters, twins.
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
12MT — Moderate — ThematicReal 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
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
- 9780525646761
- Pages
- 352
- Publisher
- Knopf Books for Young Readers
- Published
- 2020
- Type
- Fiction