Ivy + Bean and the ghost that had to go

Annie Barrows

Ivy + Bean and the ghost that had to go

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

The Ghost That Had to Go

by Annie Barrows

Reading Level 4-5 9LE Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 4th 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

Ivy and Bean are the only second graders brave enough to tackle a ghost living in their school bathroom. They’re not scared—they’re ready to send that spooky spirit packing, no matter what it takes. Because some mysteries just can’t wait—and neither can they.

Themes

Friendship HumorSchool & EducationJuvenile FictionHorror

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade book follows two young girls, Ivy and Bean, as they confront a ghost haunting their school bathroom with humor and courage. Suitable for ages 9-12, it blends light horror with friendship and school life themes, making it an engaging read without intense scares. Parents should know it contains mild spooky elements appropriate for this age group.

Why we rated Ivy + Bean and the ghost that had to go 9LE

Ivy + Bean and the ghost that had to go is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 140 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Ivy + Bean and the ghost that had to go works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate Ivy + Bean and the ghost that had to go as 9LE ("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, Ivy + Bean and the ghost that had to go explores friendship, humor, school & education, juvenile fiction, and horror — 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.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, humor, school & education.

Maybe not for

! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.

For Parents

Content Intensity

9LE — Light — Emotional

Emotional

Light ←

Physical

Clear

Social

Light

Thematic

Clear

Light conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.

Data confidence: standard

Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

2/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

1/10

A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level

Emotional Weight

Theme Richness

World Scope

Data Confidence

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Ivy + Bean and the Ghost That Had to Go

Annie Barrows