On That Dark Night
Carol Beach York
On That Dark Night
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Carol Beach York
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
Julie isn’t just an ordinary girl—she’s someone who has lived before, and her past life ended in a heartbreaking tragedy. Discovering this secret changes everything she thought she knew about herself. But what does that mean for her future?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This young adult novel explores themes of reincarnation and identity through the story of Julie, a teenager who uncovers memories of a past life marked by tragedy. Suitable for ages 13 to 18, it offers thoughtful reflections on self-discovery and emotional growth. Parents should note the story deals with themes of death and loss in a sensitive manner.
Why we rated On That Dark Night 9ME
On That Dark Night is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 100 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, On That Dark Night works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate On That Dark Night as 9ME ("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, 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, On That Dark Night explores reincarnation, identity & self-discovery, coming of age, and fiction — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about reincarnation, identity & self-discovery, coming of age.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9ME — 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
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780553252071
- Pages
- 100
- Publisher
- Bantam Books
- Published
- September 1, 1985
- Type
- Fiction