Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated
Ghost town
Richard W. Jennings
Ghost town
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Richard W. Jennings
The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material. Its HootRating code, LE, means mild content, mostly emotional.
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About This Book
Spencer stands alone in the empty streets, clicking his late father’s camera shutter. He’s used to the silence of his ghost town—but when the photos develop, something unexpected appears. What could it be, lurking in the shadows of a place everyone else has left behind?
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction follows Spencer, one of the last residents of a deserted Kansas town, who discovers surprising secrets through his late father's camera. The story blends themes of loneliness, imagination, and humor with a touch of mystery, suitable for ages 9-12. Parents should note the book contains mild suspense but no graphic content.
Why we rated Ghost town LE (Mild)
Ghost town is written at a Level 7-8 reading level across 167 pages. Middle Grades (Ages 9-12) is the typical interest range for this book — readers in that age band have the maturity and attention span suited to the story, separate from whether they can decode the words.
We rate Ghost town as LE (Mild, mostly 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, Ghost town explores ghost towns, imaginary playmates, humorous stories, family, 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 ghost towns, imaginary playmates, humorous stories.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
LE · Mild · EmotionalReading the HootRating code: the first letter is the content intensity (C = Gentle · L = Mild · M = Moderate · I = Intense · V = Very Intense); the second, when there is one, is the kind of content that drives it (E = Emotional · P = Physical · S = Social · T = Thematic). Reading level and age range are rated separately. How we rate
Light conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780547194714
- Pages
- 167
- Publisher
- Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
- Published
- 2009
- Type
- Fiction