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The ghost of rabbits past

John R. Erickson

Cover of The ghost of rabbits past

The ghost of rabbits past

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by John R. Erickson

Illustrated by Holmes, Gerald L., illustrator

Reading Level 4-5 9LP 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

Hank races through the dusty yard, ears perked, heart pounding. The coyotes have snatched Drover, and Hank knows time is running out. Can he track them down before it's too late?

Themes

AdventureFriendshipJuvenile Fiction

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade fiction follows Hank the Cowdog as he embarks on a daring rescue mission after coyotes kidnap his friend Drover. Suitable for children ages 9-12, the story offers adventure and problem-solving without graphic content, making it engaging yet appropriate for this age group.

Why we rated The ghost of rabbits past 9LP

The ghost of rabbits past is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 720L across 128 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The ghost of rabbits past works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate The ghost of rabbits past 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.

No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.

Thematically, The ghost of rabbits past explores adventure, friendship, and juvenile fiction — 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 adventure, friendship, juvenile fiction.

Maybe not for

  • ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.

For Parents

Content Intensity

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

Light conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.

Data confidence: high

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

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

2/10

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
3
World Scope
1
Data Confidence
7

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Details

Book Length

128 pages
ISBN
9781591882626
Pages
128
Publisher
Hank the Cowdog (Hardcover)
Published
2013
Type
Fiction
Lexile
720L

Genres

Subjects

KidnappingHank the CowdogCoyotesCoyoteDogsRanch Life