The Dark and Deadly Pool
Joan Lowery Nixon
The Dark and Deadly Pool
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Joan Lowery Nixon
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
Splash! The cool water ripples under the moonlight, but something dark and cold lurks beneath the pool’s surface. Liz feels a sudden grip on her sneaker—was it a shadow or something more? The quiet hotel hides scary secrets that only Liz dares to uncover.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade mystery follows Liz as she navigates eerie and suspenseful events at a hotel pool during her summer job. The story contains mild supernatural elements, suspense, and some light romance and humor, suitable for readers aged 9-12. Parents should know the book involves themes of danger and mystery but is appropriate for middle-grade audiences.
Why we rated The Dark and Deadly Pool 9LP
The Dark and Deadly Pool is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 188 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The Dark and Deadly Pool works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate The Dark and Deadly Pool 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, The Dark and Deadly Pool explores mystery, suspense, 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about mystery, suspense, friendship.
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
3/10A 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
- 9789993096948
- Pages
- 188
- Publisher
- Laurel Leaf
- Published
- November 1993
- Type
- Fiction