Night of the Living Tiki (Neri, P. J. Hawaii Chillers, #4.)
P. J. Neri
Night of the Living Tiki (Neri, P. J. Hawaii Chillers, #4.)
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by P. J. Neri
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
The sharp creak of wooden feet echoes through the dark house, sending chills down Kimo's spine. A tiny tiki, carved from ancient wood, seems to move when no one’s watching. Suddenly, Kimo’s deepest fears start to creep into his nights—what if the tiki’s curse is real?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade horror story follows Kimo, who unknowingly brings home a small wooden tiki that unleashes a series of frightening events tied to bad luck and nightmares. Suitable for ages 9-12, the book explores themes of fear and superstition in an engaging but age-appropriate way. Parents should note the spooky atmosphere and mild supernatural elements that build suspense without graphic content.
Why we rated Night of the Living Tiki (Neri, P. J. Hawaii Chillers, #4.) 9LE
Night of the Living Tiki (Neri, P. J. Hawaii Chillers, #4.) is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 124 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Night of the Living Tiki (Neri, P. J. Hawaii Chillers, #4.) works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Night of the Living Tiki (Neri, P. J. Hawaii Chillers, #4.) as 9LE ("Light — 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.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, Night of the Living Tiki (Neri, P. J. Hawaii Chillers, #4.) explores horror & ghost stories, friendship, 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.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about horror & ghost stories, friendship, adventure.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781573060431
- Pages
- 124
- Publisher
- Bess Press
- Published
- June 1998
- Type
- Fiction