Haunted
Leslie McFarlane
Haunted
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Hardy Boys: Undercover Brothers #Special Edition
by Leslie McFarlane
The text is written at a 6th 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
Frank and Joe Hardy creep through the shadowy halls of the Undercliff House, where whispers echo and shadows twist. Suddenly, a chilling scream cuts through the silence—someone’s in real danger. But is it the living or the spirits that haunt these walls?
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade mystery follows Frank and Joe Hardy as they investigate eerie happenings at a juvenile detention center with a haunted past. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story blends action, suspense, and mild supernatural elements without graphic content, making it an engaging adventure for young readers interested in mysteries and ghost stories.
Why we rated Haunted 11LE
Haunted is written at a Level 6 reading level across 240 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Haunted works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Haunted as 11LE ("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, Haunted explores mystery, adventure, horror & ghost stories, juvenile fiction, and detective stories — 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 mystery, adventure, horror & ghost stories.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11LE — 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
- 9781416961697
- Pages
- 240
- Publisher
- Aladdin
- Published
- August 5, 2008
- Type
- Fiction