Stonewords
Pam Conrad
Stonewords
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Ghost Story
by Pam Conrad
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
The wind howls through the old house as two girls meet—one alive, one a ghost. Their friendship sparks in the shadows, but secrets linger just beyond the moonlight. Suddenly, a chilling discovery threatens to tear them apart.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Stonewords is a middle-grade ghost story about the unusual friendship between a living girl and a ghost. The story gently explores themes of friendship and mystery suitable for ages 9-12, with mild supernatural elements. Parents should note the presence of ghostly themes but no intense scares or graphic content.
Why we rated Stonewords 9LE
Stonewords is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 144 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Stonewords works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Stonewords as 9LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, Stonewords explores friendship, ghost stories, and mystery — 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, ghost stories, mystery.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780064403542
- Pages
- 144
- Publisher
- HarperTrophy
- Published
- October 30, 1991
- Type
- Fiction