Project 17
Laurie Faria Stolarz
Project 17
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Laurie Faria Stolarz
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
Have you ever wondered what secrets hide inside an abandoned hospital? High on Hathorne Hill, an old mental institution stands silent and spooky, filled with ghost stories and hidden treasures. But when six teens sneak in to film a movie, they discover that some mysteries are darker than they imagined—what will they find in the shadows?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Project 17 follows six teenagers who break into an abandoned mental hospital to film a movie on the night before its demolition. The story explores themes of horror, mystery, and the supernatural as the teens encounter eerie phenomena and uncover haunting secrets. Recommended for ages 13 and up, the book contains suspenseful and frightening scenes appropriate for mature young readers interested in ghost stories and thrillers.
Why we rated Project 17 11ME
Project 17 is written at a Level 6 reading level across 256 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Project 17 works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Project 17 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.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mild Peril, Fear & Anxiety.
Thematically, Project 17 explores horror & ghost stories, mystery, adventure, friendship, and coming of age — 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about horror & ghost stories, mystery, adventure.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11ME — 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
3/10A 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
- 9780786838561
- Pages
- 256
- Publisher
- Hyperion
- Published
- December 18, 2007
- Type
- Fiction