The ghost in the tree house

Dori Hillestad Butler

Cover of The ghost in the tree house

The ghost in the tree house

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Dori Hillestad Butler

Illustrated by Damant, Aurore, 1981- illustrator

Reading Level 4-5 9LE Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

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

Claire and Kaz are huddled in their tree house when a sudden creak echoes through the night. Is it the rival club trying to spook them, or could it be the ghost of Kaz’s ancestor watching over them? Just as a shadow moves outside, they realize this mystery is far from over.

Themes

MysteryFriendshipGhostsAdventureJuvenile Fiction

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade mystery follows Claire and Kaz as they investigate strange noises in their tree house, blending themes of friendship and the supernatural. Appropriate for ages 9-12, the story contains mild suspense and ghostly elements but is suitable for young readers interested in gentle mysteries. There are no intense or graphic scenes, making it a safe choice for this age group.

For Parents

Content Intensity

9LE — Light — Emotional
Emotional
Light
Physical
Clear
Social
Clear
Thematic
Light

Light conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.

Data confidence: standard

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

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

3/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

1/10

A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
4
Emotional Weight
4
Theme Richness
5
World Scope
1
Data Confidence
7

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Details

Book Length

128 pages
ISBN
9780448489414
Pages
128
Publisher
Grosset & Dunlap
Published
2016
Type
Fiction

Genres

Subjects

ApparitionsTree HousesMystery and Detective StoriesGhosts