Precious Dreadful
Steven Parlato
Precious Dreadful
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Novel
by Steven Parlato
The text is written at a 7th 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.
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About This Book
What if a summer writing group unlocked memories you thought were long gone? Teddi Alder just wanted to keep busy, but when a ghostly girl starts following her and forgotten secrets surface, everything she thought she knew begins to unravel. Can she solve the mystery before her world slips away?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel blends supernatural elements with themes of friendship, self-discovery, and young romance. It explores a teenage girl's journey as she confronts unsettling memories and ghostly encounters while navigating complex social relationships. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story contains mild paranormal themes and addresses subjects like alcoholism and dating in an age-appropriate manner.
Why we rated Precious Dreadful 12ME
Precious Dreadful is written at a Level 7 reading level across 352 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Precious Dreadful works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Precious Dreadful as 12ME ("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, social complexity — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Alcoholism.
Thematically, Precious Dreadful explores friendship, coming of age, supernatural, romance, and authorship — 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 friendship, coming of age, supernatural.
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
12ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Content Flags
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
- 9781507202784
- Pages
- 352
- Publisher
- Simon and Schuster
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction