Strange star

Emma Carroll

Cover of Strange star

Strange star

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Emma Carroll

Reading Level 6 Moderate (Lvl 3) Ages 9-12 Matched

The text is written at a 6th 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

Felix, a brave servant with a past as a slave, isn't just listening to ghost stories—he's living one. When a mysterious girl with a haunting secret appears on a stormy night, everything changes. It’s not just stories that come to life, but truths that could change their world forever.

Quick Assessment

Set in 1816 Switzerland, this historical fiction follows Felix, a former slave turned servant, as he and others share ghost stories during a stormy night. The arrival of a scarred girl with a dark secret introduces themes of adoption, storytelling, and the complexities of history. Suitable for ages 9-12, the book explores mature themes like slavery and social hierarchy with sensitivity and depth.

For Parents

Content Intensity

Level 3 — Moderate
Gentle Mild Moderate Intense Very Intense

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

Content Flags

Loss & Grief Divorce & Family Change Fear & Anxiety
Data confidence: standard

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

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

1/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

6/10

Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
5
Emotional Weight
6
Theme Richness
8
World Scope
5
Data Confidence
7

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Details

Book Length

230 pages
ISBN
9780399556050
Pages
230
Publisher
Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Published
2018
Type
Fiction

Genres

Subjects

Household EmployeesAdoptionStorytellingGhostsHorror Stories

People

George Gordon Byron Byron Baron (1788-1824)Claire Clairmont (1798-1879)Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (1797-1851)Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822)

Places

Switzerland