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Ghost of Black's Island

Mark Mulligan

Cover of Ghost of Black's Island

Ghost of Black's Island

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Mark Mulligan

Illustrated by Vic Zorn

Reading Level 4-5 9MP Ages 9-12 Matched

The text is written at a 4th 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 crash of waves and the salty breeze fill the air as two groups of boys arrive at a deserted island for summer camp. But the camp is closed, and a fierce hurricane is rolling in. Strange gadgets, secret smuggling, and a ghostly captain lurking in the shadows set the stage for an unforgettable adventure.

Themes

AdventureFriendshipHorror & Ghost StoriesMystery

Quick Assessment

Set on a remote island off the Florida coast, this middle-grade novel combines adventure, mystery, and mild supernatural elements. The story involves two rival groups of boys, a smuggling plot, and encounters with the U.S. Coast Guard, making it suitable for ages 9-12. Parents should note the themes of conflict and suspense, but the content remains appropriate for this age group.

Why we rated Ghost of Black's Island 9MP

Ghost of Black's Island is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 196 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Ghost of Black's Island works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate Ghost of Black's Island as 9MP ("Moderate — Physical") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from physical peril — 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, Ghost of Black's Island explores adventure, friendship, horror & ghost stories, and mystery — 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 adventure, friendship, horror & ghost stories.

Maybe not for

  • ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.

For Parents

Content Intensity

9MP — Moderate — Physical
Emotional
Light
Physical
Moderate
Social
Light
Thematic
Light

Real stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.

Data confidence: standard

Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

3/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

2/10

A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
4
Emotional Weight
6
Theme Richness
4
World Scope
1
Data Confidence
7

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Details

Book Length

196 pages
ISBN
9781882444014
Pages
196
Publisher
Boulevard Books
Published
January 15, 1993
Type
Fiction

Genres

Queensland

Subjects

Horror & Ghost Stories