POISON
John Peel (undifferentiated)
POISON
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by John Peel (undifferentiated)
The text is written at a 6th 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
The hiss of a cold, slithering snake sends chills down Brittany's spine as darkness closes in. The air is thick with fear and mystery after Grant's sudden death shakes their world. What secrets hide beneath the surface, and can Brittany face the terror creeping closer?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This suspenseful thriller explores themes of jealousy, murder, and supernatural fear, centered around a teenager grappling with the aftermath of a deadly incident involving her friend. Suitable for ages 13 and up, it contains elements of horror and emotional tension that may be intense for sensitive readers. Parents should be aware of the story's dark atmosphere and themes of violence.
Why we rated POISON 11ME
POISON is written at a Level 6 reading level across 224 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, POISON works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate POISON 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, 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, POISON explores murder, horror, friendship, and fear & anxiety — 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 murder, horror, friendship.
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
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
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780671887360
- Pages
- 224
- Publisher
- Simon Pulse
- Published
- December 1, 1994
- Type
- Fiction