New Kind of Dreaming
Anthony Eaton
New Kind of Dreaming
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Anthony Eaton
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.
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About This Book
Here's a secret: Jamie hears a ghostly voice calling from an abandoned boat in a quiet town far away. This voice belongs to a girl who died long ago, and she needs Jamie's help to solve a mystery. But that's only the beginning.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade mystery follows 17-year-old Jamie as he moves to a remote town in Western Australia and becomes connected to the ghost of a young girl through an abandoned boat. The story combines elements of supernatural intrigue with a detective quest, suitable for ages 9-12. Parents should note the presence of themes involving death and mystery, handled thoughtfully for this age group.
Why we rated New Kind of Dreaming 11ME
New Kind of Dreaming is written at a Level 6 reading level across 271 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, New Kind of Dreaming works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate New Kind of Dreaming as 11ME ("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.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.
Thematically, New Kind of Dreaming explores mystery, ghosts, adventure, family, 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.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about mystery, ghosts, adventure.
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
11ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A 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
- 9780702247804
- Pages
- 271
- Publisher
- University of Queensland Press
- Published
- 2014
- Type
- Fiction