The August House Book of Scary Stories
Liz Smith Parkhurst
The August House Book of Scary Stories
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Spooky Tales for Telling Out Loud
by Liz Smith Parkhurst
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 as shadows creep closer around the campfire. Suddenly, a chilling whisper cuts through the night—someone’s telling a story so scary, it might just come to life. But what happens when the tale steps out of the shadows?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This collection features a variety of scary stories specially selected for kids ages 9 to 12, making it ideal for middle-grade readers who enjoy a good thrill. The stories have been tested in educational settings and include performance tips and background information, supporting both reluctant readers and adults working with children. While the tales are spooky, they are crafted to entertain without graphic content, suitable for school and home use.
Why we rated The August House Book of Scary Stories 9LE
The August House Book of Scary Stories 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, The August House Book of Scary Stories works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate The August House Book of Scary Stories 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.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mild Peril, Fear & Anxiety.
Thematically, The August House Book of Scary Stories explores horror stories, storytelling, friendship, and adventure — 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 horror stories, storytelling, friendship.
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.
Content Flags
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
- 9780874839159
- Pages
- 144
- Publisher
- August House Publishers
- Published
- 2009
- Type
- Fiction