What reading level is The ghost prison?

The ghost prison by Joseph Delaney is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 780L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is The ghost prison appropriate for?

The ghost prison is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9MP (Moderate — Physical).

What genre is The ghost prison?

The ghost prison is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does The ghost prison have any content warnings?

The ghost prison has a HootRating of 9MP (Moderate — Physical). No specific content flags noted. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is The ghost prison?

The ghost prison by Joseph Delaney is 92 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

The ghost prison

Joseph Delaney

The ghost prison

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Joseph Delaney

Illustrated by Fischer, Scott M., illustrator

Reading Level 4-5 9MP Ages 9-12 Matched

The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.

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About This Book

The cold, damp walls of the castle prison echo with eerie whispers and the distant clinking of chains. Fifteen-year-old Billy steps cautiously, knowing the ghosts of past prisoners lurk nearby, watching every move. When a mischievous ghost named Long-Neck Netty plays a dangerous trick during Billy’s nightly rounds, the chilling secret of the prison comes alive in the shadows.

Themes

Ghost storiesParanormal fictionAdventure Mystery

Quick Assessment

This short horror novella follows fifteen-year-old Billy, who guards a haunted castle prison where restless spirits of executed inmates linger. Aimed at readers aged 9-12, it combines spooky paranormal elements with mild peril in a suspenseful but age-appropriate way. The story includes supernatural themes and some tense moments, making it suitable for middle-grade readers who enjoy ghost stories.

Why we rated The ghost prison 9MP

The ghost prison is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 780L across 92 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The ghost prison works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate The ghost prison as 9MP ("Moderate — Physical") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from physical peril — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

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

Thematically, The ghost prison explores ghost stories, paranormal fiction, adventure, and mystery — 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 ghost stories, paranormal fiction, adventure.