Dead man's hand
Jordan Cray
Dead man's hand
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Jordan Cray
The text is written at a 6th 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
Annie and Nick dash through the bustling streets of Key West, hearts pounding as they stumble upon a chilling secret. Their innocent vacation turns upside down when a mystery unfolds right before their eyes. Suddenly, a shadowy figure appears—what will they do next?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade mystery follows Annie and Nick as their vacation in Key West unexpectedly entangles them in a murder investigation. Suitable for readers aged 9-12, the story includes themes of stepfamily dynamics and detective work. The book contains mild suspense and encourages problem-solving and critical thinking.
Why we rated Dead man's hand 11LE
Dead man's hand is written at a Level 6 reading level across 210 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Dead man's hand works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Dead man's hand as 11LE ("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, Dead man's hand explores stepfamilies, detective and mystery stories, friendship, and adventure — 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 stepfamilies, detective and mystery stories, friendship.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11LE — 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
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0689823835
- Pages
- 210
- Publisher
- Simon Pulse
- Published
- 1998
- Type
- Fiction