Lily Dale
Wendy Corsi Staub
Lily Dale
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Discovering
by Wendy Corsi Staub
The text is written at a 7th 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
What secrets lie buried in Lily Dale, the town where every shadow hides a story? Calla has always felt the weight of her mother’s past pressing down on her, but now those mysteries are about to surface. Can she uncover the truth before it changes everything?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Lily Dale is a middle-grade mystery novel suitable for ages 9-12 that explores themes of family secrets and self-discovery. The story involves supernatural elements and some suspenseful moments that may be intense for sensitive readers. Parents should be aware that the book contains spine-chilling horror aspects tied to the protagonist's journey to uncover her mother's past.
Why we rated Lily Dale 12ME
Lily Dale is written at a Level 7 reading level across 304 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Lily Dale works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Lily Dale as 12ME ("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 — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Fear & Anxiety, Mystery, Emotional: Family Secrets.
Thematically, Lily Dale explores mystery, family, coming of age, supernatural, and emotional growth — 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 mystery, family, coming of age.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12ME — 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
2/10A 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
- 9780802720894
- Pages
- 304
- Publisher
- Bloomsbury Publishing USA
- Published
- June 8, 2010
- Type
- Fiction