What reading level is The fall of the house of Usher?

The fall of the house of Usher by Matthew K. Manning is at a Level 2-3 reading level. Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What genre is The fall of the house of Usher?

The fall of the house of Usher is fiction — Juvenile Nonfiction. Part of the Edgar Allan Poe; Edgar Allan Poe Graphic Novels series.

How many pages is The fall of the house of Usher?

The fall of the house of Usher by Matthew K. Manning is 74 pages (approximately 1,146 words).

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

The fall of the house of Usher

Matthew K. Manning

The fall of the house of Usher

Q: What age is The fall of the house of Usher appropriate for?

The fall of the house of Usher is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 7IE (Intense — Emotional). Content flags: Physical Danger, Emotional: Loss & Grief, Emotional: Mental Health, Physical/Safety: Blood/Gore, Emotional: Fear & Anxiety, Emotional: Death of Major Character.

Q: Does The fall of the house of Usher have any content warnings?

The fall of the house of Usher has a HootRating of 7IE (Intense — Emotional). Content flags include: Physical Danger, Emotional: Loss & Grief, Emotional: Mental Health, Physical/Safety: Blood/Gore, Emotional: Fear & Anxiety, Emotional: Death of Major Character. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Matthew K. Manning

Edgar Allan Poe; Edgar Allan Poe Graphic Novels

Reading Level 2-3 7IE Ages 9-12 Heads Up Page-Turner

The text is written at a 2nd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes.

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About This Book

A spooky old mansion holds dark secrets and eerie shadows that come to life. As strange events unfold, the story reveals a family's deep troubles and haunting mysteries that will keep readers on edge. Brace yourself for a chilling adventure that explores fear and loss in a creepy, unforgettable setting.

Themes

Horror storiesFamily MysteryGothic

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 2-3 book with intense content intensity. Note: content intensity (Intense) exceeds what the reading level might suggest. Content themes include physical danger, emotional: loss & grief, emotional: mental health. Written for readers ages 9-12.

Why we rated The fall of the house of Usher 7IE

The fall of the house of Usher is written at a Level 2-3 reading level across 74 pages (approximately 1,146 words). Strong independent readers around grade 3.2 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The fall of the house of Usher works for readers up to grade 4.2.

Read aloud, The fall of the house of Usher takes about 8 minutes, which fits within a single read-aloud session.

We rate The fall of the house of Usher as 7IE ("Intense — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Intense" range — intense conflict including peril, frightening scenes, or emotionally heavy themes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, physical peril — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Physical Danger, Emotional: Loss & Grief, Emotional: Mental Health, Physical/Safety: Blood/Gore, Emotional: Fear & Anxiety, Emotional: Death of Major Character.

Thematically, The fall of the house of Usher explores horror stories, family, mystery, and gothic — 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.
✓ Reluctant readers who need fast-paced, hook-heavy stories to stay engaged.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about horror stories, family, mystery.

Maybe not for

! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
! Children younger than 9-12 — the content intensity is above what most younger kids can process comfortably.
! Children currently coping with grief — the themes may hit close to home.

For Parents

Content Intensity

7IE — Intense — Emotional

Emotional

Intense ←

Physical

Intense

Social

Clear

Thematic

Clear

Heavy themes explored in depth. War, death, abuse addressed directly.

Content Flags

Physical Danger Emotional: Loss & Grief Emotional: Mental Health Physical/Safety: Blood/Gore Emotional: Fear & Anxiety Emotional: Death of Major Character

Data confidence: standard

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