Tales of a Dead King
Walter Dean Myers
Tales of a Dead King
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Walter Dean Myers
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
When two young friends discover a secret plan to steal treasures from an ancient Egyptian pharaoh's tomb, they embark on a thrilling adventure filled with mystery and courage. Together, they must outsmart those who seek to take what doesn't belong to them and protect history's greatest secrets.
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 4-5 book with mild content intensity. Content themes include mild peril. Written for readers ages 9-12.
Why we rated Tales of a Dead King 9LP
Tales of a Dead King is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 89 pages (approximately 20,750 words). Strong independent readers around grade 5.8 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Tales of a Dead King works for readers up to grade 6.8.
Read aloud, Tales of a Dead King runs about 2.3 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.
We rate Tales of a Dead King as 9LP ("Light — Physical") 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.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mild Peril.
Thematically, Tales of a Dead King explores adventure, friendship, mystery, and historical — 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about adventure, friendship, mystery.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LP — Light — PhysicalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Content Flags
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
4/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0153003758
- Pages
- 89
- Publisher
- Harcourt Brace
- Published
- January 1993
- Type
- Fiction
- Word Count
- 20,750
- Read-Aloud
- ~2h 18m
- Text Density
- Standard