High Tide
Robert Lawrence Stine
High Tide
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Robert Lawrence Stine
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 salty breeze stings your skin as waves crash wildly, carrying whispers of a terrifying night. Adam’s heart pounds every time he hears the ocean’s roar, remembering the blood and the water that took Mitzi away. Fear clings to him like seaweed, and the nightmare is far from over.
Themes
Quick Assessment
High Tide is a middle-grade horror story about Adam, a lifeguard haunted by the tragic loss of his girlfriend, Mitzi. The story explores themes of grief and trauma through suspenseful and eerie events, suitable for readers aged 9 to 12 who can handle mild horror elements and emotional intensity. Parents should be aware of scary scenes and themes of loss.
Why we rated High Tide 9ME
High Tide is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 176 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, High Tide works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate High Tide as 9ME ("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: Fear & Anxiety, Loss & Grief, Mild Peril.
Thematically, High Tide explores horror, friendship, loss & grief, and coming of age — 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.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about horror, friendship, loss & grief.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Children currently coping with grief — the themes may hit close to home.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9ME — 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
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781481413824
- Pages
- 176
- Publisher
- Simon and Schuster
- Published
- 2014
- Type
- Fiction