The ghost of Pont Diable
James Rice
The ghost of Pont Diable
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by James Rice
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
Bois Sec and his uncle BoBo are paddling through the misty Louisiana bayou when a shadowy figure appears on the shore. The woman’s eyes gleam as she whispers about a secret pirate treasure hidden long ago. But can they trust her, or is danger lurking beneath the calm water?
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade adventure follows thirteen-year-old Bois Sec and his uncle BoBo as they navigate the Louisiana bayou and encounter a mysterious woman who claims to know the location of pirate Jean Laffite’s buried treasure. The story combines elements of family bonds, regional culture, and mystery suitable for readers aged 9 to 12. Parents should note the themes of orphans and treasure hunting, with mild suspense but no graphic content.
Why we rated The ghost of Pont Diable 9LE
The ghost of Pont Diable is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 169 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The ghost of Pont Diable works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate The ghost of Pont Diable 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.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, The ghost of Pont Diable explores adventure, family, mystery, bayous, and buried treasure — 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, family, mystery.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
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
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 1571681094
- Pages
- 169
- Publisher
- Eakin Press
- Published
- 1996
- Type
- Fiction