Night of the living dummy II

Name: Night of the living dummy II
Author: Robert Lawrence Stine
ISBN: 0590483498

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Robert Lawrence Stine

Goosebumps

Reading Level 3-4 ME · Moderate · Emotional Ages 9-12 Heads Up Page-Turner

The text is written at a 3rd 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, ME, means moderate content, mostly emotional.

Find on Amazon Listen on Audible

We may earn a commission from these links.

About This Book

Amy receives a new ventriloquist dummy named Slappy, but soon strange and unsettling events begin to unfold around her. As the mysterious happenings grow more frightening, Amy must face the eerie secrets tied to her new toy.

Themes

Fantasy World-Building Adventure Mystery

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 3-4 book with moderate content intensity. Content themes include fear & anxiety, mild peril, fantasy violence. Written for readers ages 9-12.

Why we rated Night of the living dummy II ME (Moderate)

Night of the living dummy II is written at a Level 3-4 reading level across 120 pages (approximately 20,801 words). Reading-wise, most kids in grade 4 and up can manage Night of the living dummy II on their own; younger readers can enjoy it with a parent or teacher reading along.

Read aloud, Night of the living dummy II runs about 2.3 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.

We rate Night of the living dummy II as ME (Moderate, mostly 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, physical peril — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Fear & Anxiety, Mild Peril, Fantasy Violence.

Thematically, Night of the living dummy II explores fantasy world-building, adventure, and mystery — 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.
✓ Reluctant readers who need fast-paced, hook-heavy stories to stay engaged.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about fantasy world-building, adventure, mystery.
✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there are 78 more books in the Goosebumps series.

Maybe not for

! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.

For Parents

Content Intensity

ME · Moderate · Emotional

Emotional

Moderate ←

Physical

Moderate

Social

Gentle

Thematic

Gentle

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.