What reading level is Deserted Cities?

Deserted Cities by E. Merwin is at a Level 4-5 reading level. Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Deserted Cities appropriate for?

Deserted Cities is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9LE (Light — Emotional). Content flags: Mild Peril, Fear & Anxiety.

What genre is Deserted Cities?

Deserted Cities is nonfiction — Juvenile Nonfiction. Part of the Tiptoe into Scary Places series.

Does Deserted Cities have any content warnings?

Deserted Cities has a HootRating of 9LE (Light — Emotional). Content flags include: Mild Peril, Fear & Anxiety. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Deserted Cities?

Deserted Cities by E. Merwin is 24 pages (approximately 774 words).

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

Deserted Cities

E. Merwin

Deserted Cities

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by E. Merwin

Tiptoe into Scary Places

Reading Level 4-5 9LE Ages 9-12 Balanced Read Page-Turner

The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.

Buy on Amazon Listen on Audible Find on Bookshop.org

We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.

About This Book

Explore eerie, empty cities where nature is reclaiming the ruins and mysterious eyes seem to watch from the shadows. Dive into four chilling stories that bring these deserted places to life with spooky scenes and surprising twists. Perfect for young readers ready to feel a little thrill and adventure.

Themes

Adventure Mystery Fantasy World-Building

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 4-5 book with mild content intensity. Content themes include mild peril, fear & anxiety. Written for readers ages 9-12.

Why we rated Deserted Cities 9LE

Deserted Cities is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 24 pages (approximately 774 words). Strong independent readers around grade 5.2 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Deserted Cities works for readers up to grade 6.2.

Read aloud, Deserted Cities takes about 5 minutes, which fits within a single read-aloud session.

We rate Deserted Cities as 9LE ("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.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mild Peril, Fear & Anxiety.

Thematically, Deserted Cities explores adventure, mystery, 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.
✓ Reluctant readers who need fast-paced, hook-heavy stories to stay engaged.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about adventure, mystery, fantasy world-building.
✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there are 7 more books in the Tiptoe into Scary Places series.
✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.