How to curse in hieroglyphics
Lesley Livingston
How to curse in hieroglyphics
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Book 1 The Wiggins Weird Sequence
by Lesley Livingston
Illustrated by Burley, Steven, illustrator
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
What if two cousins, as close as sisters, discover a real ancient curse hidden in a creepy carnival's mummified princess? Imagine using your love of monster movies and popcorn-fueled detective skills to save your whole town from mysterious dangers. But can Cheryl, Tweed, and their pilot friend outsmart a curse darker than any B-movie plot they've ever seen?
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction follows Cheryl and Tweed, cousin best friends raised by their grandfather in a small town, who stumble upon a genuine ancient Egyptian curse at a traveling carnival. The story blends mystery, adventure, and humor, making it suitable for readers ages 9-12 who enjoy light supernatural themes without graphic content. Parents should note mild peril and fantasy elements tied to the curse, but overall the book maintains a fun and engaging tone.
Why we rated How to curse in hieroglyphics 11LE
How to curse in hieroglyphics is written at a Level 6 reading level across 238 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, How to curse in hieroglyphics works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate How to curse in hieroglyphics 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, How to curse in hieroglyphics explores adventure, mystery, friendship, family, and fantasy world-building — 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, mystery, friendship.
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
4/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780143184249
- Pages
- 238
- Publisher
- Penguin
- Published
- 2013
- Type
- Fiction