Hangman's Curse
Frank E. Peretti
Hangman's Curse
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Movie Edition (The Veritas Project)
by Frank E. Peretti
The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
There’s a secret haunting Baker High—students are falling ill, and everyone whispers about a ghost’s curse. Elijah and Elisha Springfield aren’t just students; they’re undercover detectives ready to unravel the mystery. But that’s only the beginning.
Quick Assessment
This young adult mystery follows Elijah and Elisha Springfield as they investigate a series of strange illnesses at Baker High, rumored to be caused by a ghost’s curse. Suitable for ages 13-18, the story combines suspense, school life, and detective work without graphic content, making it appropriate for middle and high school readers.
Why we rated Hangman's Curse 12LE
Hangman's Curse is written at a Level 7 reading level across 312 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Hangman's Curse works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Hangman's Curse as 12LE ("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, Hangman's Curse explores mystery, schools, detective stories, and adventure — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about mystery, schools, detective stories.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12LE — 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
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781400303717
- Pages
- 312
- Publisher
- Transit
- Published
- December 4, 2003
- Type
- Fiction