Desires of the Dead
Kimberly Derting
Desires of the Dead
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Kimberly Derting
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
The sharp smell of rain-soaked earth fills the air as Violet feels a strange chill run down her spine. Between secret whispers, mysterious notes, and shadows in Mike’s house, her world starts to tremble with secrets she can’t ignore. Love, danger, and a puzzle only she can solve swirl around her heart.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction blends romance and suspense as Violet navigates the challenges of a new relationship alongside her emerging supernatural abilities. The story includes themes of friendship, mystery, and mild peril involving the FBI, making it suitable for readers aged 9-12 who enjoy thrilling yet age-appropriate narratives. Parents should note some suspenseful moments and subtle tension but no explicit content.
Why we rated Desires of the Dead 12ME
Desires of the Dead is written at a Level 7 reading level across 368 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Desires of the Dead works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Desires of the Dead as 12ME ("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, 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, Desires of the Dead explores friendship, romance, mystery, and suspense — 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 friendship, romance, mystery.
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
12ME — 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
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
- 9780755378968
- Pages
- 368
- Publisher
- Headline Publishing Group
- Published
- 2011
- Type
- Fiction