Night of the Living Dummy III

Name: Night of the Living Dummy III
Author: Robert Lawrence Stine
ISBN: 0590568779

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

Goosebumps #40

by Robert Lawrence Stine

Goosebumps

Reading Level 3-4 LE · Mild · Emotional Ages 9-12 Matched 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 is mild with minimal sensitive material. Its HootRating code, LE, means mild content, mostly emotional.

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About This Book

When Trina discovers her dad's old ventriloquist dummies hidden in the attic, strange voices start whispering, and the dummies appear in unexpected spots around the house. As eerie events unfold, Trina must unravel the mystery behind these creepy puppets before it's too late. Perfect for readers who enjoy spine-tingling adventures with a twist of the supernatural.

Themes

Horror storiesFamily Mystery Adventure

Quick Assessment

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

Why we rated Night of the Living Dummy III LE (Mild)

Night of the Living Dummy III is written at a Level 3-4 reading level across 125 pages (approximately 21,013 words). Reading-wise, most kids in grade 4 and up can manage Night of the Living Dummy III on their own; younger readers can enjoy it with a parent or teacher reading along.

Read aloud, Night of the Living Dummy III runs about 2.3 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.

We rate Night of the Living Dummy III as LE (Mild, mostly 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.

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

Thematically, Night of the Living Dummy III explores horror stories, family, mystery, and adventure — 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 horror stories, family, 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

! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.

For Parents

Content Intensity

LE · Mild · Emotional

Emotional

Mild ←

Physical

Mild

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

Light conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.