Murder is bad manners

Name: Murder is bad manners
Author: Robin Stevens
ISBN: 9781481422123

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

A Wells and Wong Mystery

by Robin Stevens

Reading Level 6-7 MP · Moderate · Physical Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 6th 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. Its HootRating code, MP, means moderate content, mostly physical.

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About This Book

What if a quiet boarding school hid a deadly secret? When a mysterious murder shakes the halls, two clever friends must unravel clues before danger strikes again. Can they solve the mystery before it's too late?

Themes

Mystery FriendshipBoarding SchoolsMulticulturalJuvenile Fiction

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade mystery set in a 1930s English boarding school follows two girls investigating a suspicious death. It combines elements of classic detective stories with themes of friendship and cultural diversity, featuring a Chinese character. Suitable for ages 9-12, the book includes mild peril and explores the concept of murder in a manner appropriate for young readers.

Why we rated Murder is bad manners MP (Moderate)

Murder is bad manners is written at a Level 6-7 reading level across 307 pages. Reading-wise, most kids in grade 8 and up can manage Murder is bad manners on their own; younger readers can enjoy it with a parent or teacher reading along.

We rate Murder is bad manners as MP (Moderate, mostly physical) because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from physical peril, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.

Thematically, Murder is bad manners explores mystery, friendship, boarding schools, multicultural, and juvenile fiction — 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, friendship, boarding schools.

Maybe not for

! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.

For Parents

Content Intensity

MP · Moderate · Physical

Emotional

Mild

Physical

Moderate ←

Social

Mild

Thematic

Moderate

Reading the HootRating code: the first letter is the content intensity (C = Gentle · L = Mild · M = Moderate · I = Intense · V = Very Intense); the second, when there is one, is the kind of content that drives it (E = Emotional · P = Physical · S = Social · T = Thematic). Reading level and age range are rated separately. How we rate

Real stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.

Data confidence: high

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