Disappearance at Devil's Rock
Paul Tremblay
Disappearance at Devil's Rock
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Novel
by Paul Tremblay
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
I have a secret about a boy named Tommy who vanished from the woods near Devil's Rock. Strange shadows and torn pages from his secret journal start appearing — but that's only the beginning.
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel explores the mysterious disappearance of a thirteen-year-old boy, blending psychological suspense with supernatural elements. Suitable for ages 9-12, it addresses themes of loss, grief, and mystery, with some eerie and unsettling moments. Parents should note the presence of ghostly imagery and emotional intensity related to missing children.
Why we rated Disappearance at Devil's Rock 12ME
Disappearance at Devil's Rock is written at a Level 7 reading level across 327 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Disappearance at Devil's Rock works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Disappearance at Devil's Rock 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, Disappearance at Devil's Rock explores mystery, ghost stories, missing children, family, and psychological 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 mystery, ghost stories, missing children.
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
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780062363268
- Pages
- 327
- Publisher
- William Morrow
- Published
- 2016
- Type
- Fiction