Dead upon a time
Elizabeth M. Paulson
Dead upon a time
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Elizabeth M. Paulson
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
What if a mysterious kidnapper vanished your grandmother into the shadowy woods? Imagine discovering eerie tapestries that reveal the suffering of the missing, and realizing you might be the only one brave enough to stop the witch behind it all. But when the King's daughter disappears too, the danger grows – can Kate save them before it's too late?
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction follows Kate Hood as she confronts a sinister kidnapper and a powerful witch after her grandmother goes missing. The story blends adventure with elements of fantasy and suspense, suitable for readers aged 9-12 who enjoy thrilling mysteries. Parents should note themes of kidnapping and mild peril, but the book handles these with age-appropriate tension.
Why we rated Dead upon a time 11ME
Dead upon a time is written at a Level 6 reading level across 211 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Dead upon a time works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Dead upon a time 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, Dead upon a time explores adventure, fantasy world-building, and mystery — 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about adventure, fantasy world-building, mystery.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
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
3/10A 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
- 9780545640466
- Pages
- 211
- Publisher
- Scholastic Press
- Published
- 2015
- Type
- Fiction