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School freezes over!

Jack Chabert

Cover of School freezes over!

School freezes over!

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

A Branches Book

by Jack Chabert

Illustrated by Ricks, Sam, illustrator

Reading Level 3 8MP Ages 5-8 Heads Up

The text is written at a 3rd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for younger children (ages 5–8), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.

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About This Book

Snow piles up around Eerie Elementary as the school itself starts to shiver and creak! Sam, Lucy, and Antonio race through icy halls where every step feels colder than the last. Suddenly, the heat flickers out—can they stop the freeze before it's too late?

Themes

Haunted schoolsElementary schoolsAdventureJuvenile fictionBlizzards

Quick Assessment

This early reader fiction features a thrilling adventure set during a heavy snowstorm at a haunted elementary school. Suitable for children ages 5-8, it combines elements of mystery and mild suspense as the young protagonists try to restore heat to their freezing school. The story contains fantasy-themed peril but is appropriate for its target age group.

Why we rated School freezes over! 8MP

School freezes over! is written at a Level 3 reading level across 90 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 4.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, School freezes over! works for readers up to grade 5.0.

We rate School freezes over! as 8MP ("Moderate — Physical") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from physical peril — 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, School freezes over! explores haunted schools, elementary schools, adventure, juvenile fiction, and blizzards — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.

Good fit for

  • Children in the Ages 5-8 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
  • Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
  • Kids drawn to stories about haunted schools, elementary schools, adventure.

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

8MP — Moderate — Physical
Emotional
Light
Physical
Moderate
Social
Clear
Thematic
Light

Real stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.

Data confidence: standard

Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

2/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

2/10

A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
2
Emotional Weight
6
Theme Richness
5
World Scope
1
Data Confidence
7

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Details

Book Length

90 pages
ISBN
9780545873734
Pages
90
Publisher
Scholastic Incorporated
Published
2016
Type
Fiction

Genres

Subjects

Haunted SchoolsElementary SchoolsBlizzardsBest FriendsSchoolsHorror StoriesHaunted PlacesFriendshipHorror Tales