Gaijin girl
Thomas Randall
Gaijin girl
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
dreams of the dead
by Thomas Randall
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
Kara is braver than anyone else, even when nightmares don’t wait for bedtime but happen in broad daylight. At her new school in Japan, mysterious attacks start happening, and Kara has to figure out if a ghost is seeking revenge or if her friend Sakura is hiding a darker secret. The truth could change everything about who you trust—and who you fear.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows sixteen-year-old Kara Foster as she navigates life at a Japanese private school while confronting supernatural nightmares and a series of violent attacks on students. The story explores themes of grief, friendship, and mystery with some frightening scenes appropriate for readers aged 9-12 who enjoy suspense. Parents should note the presence of murder and supernatural elements that may be intense for sensitive readers.
Why we rated Gaijin girl 11ME
Gaijin girl is written at a Level 6 reading level across 276 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Gaijin girl works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Gaijin girl 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, physical peril — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Murder, Supernatural Violence.
Thematically, Gaijin girl explores nightmares, private schools, murder, supernatural, and friendship — 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 nightmares, private schools, murder.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Content Flags
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
- 9781599902500
- Pages
- 276
- Publisher
- Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
- Published
- 2009
- Type
- Fiction