Disappearance at Hangman's Bluff
J. E. Thompson
Disappearance at Hangman's Bluff
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by J. E. Thompson
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.
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About This Book
Abbey and Bee race through the thick woods, hearts pounding as they spot shadowy figures vanishing with Yemassee, the neighbor’s dog. They’re the only ones who saw it happen—and now the mystery is theirs to solve. But what secrets will they uncover buried deep in the past?
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade mystery follows Abbey and her best friend Bee as they investigate the sudden kidnapping of their neighbor’s dog, Yemassee. Set in South Carolina and rich with local history, the story explores themes of friendship and courage. Appropriate for ages 9-12, it contains mild suspense but no intense content.
Why we rated Disappearance at Hangman's Bluff 9LE
Disappearance at Hangman's Bluff is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 175 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Disappearance at Hangman's Bluff works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Disappearance at Hangman's Bluff 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.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, Disappearance at Hangman's Bluff explores friendship, mystery, historical, 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, mystery, historical.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" 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
- 9780062104519
- Pages
- 175
- Publisher
- Harper Collins
- Published
- 2014
- Type
- Fiction