Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated
The girl behind the glass
Jane Kelley
The girl behind the glass
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Jane Kelley
The text is written at a 2nd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for younger children (ages 5–8), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
Hannah and Anna race through their new creaky house, the shadows flickering on the walls. Suddenly, a cold whisper stops them in their tracks—there’s someone else here, someone who’s been waiting for years. What secret is the ghost hiding, and how will it change everything?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This early chapter book follows eleven-year-old identical twins Hannah and Anna as they adjust to moving from Brooklyn to a country rental house, exploring themes of sibling relationships and change. The story introduces a gentle supernatural element with the ghost of a girl tied to her own family’s past, adding mystery without being frightening. Suitable for ages 5-8, it offers an accessible narrative that touches on family dynamics and coping with new environments.
Why we rated The girl behind the glass 7LE
The girl behind the glass is written at a Level 2-3 reading level with a Lexile measure of 440L across 183 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 3.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The girl behind the glass works for readers up to grade 4.5.
We rate The girl behind the glass as 7LE ("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 girl behind the glass explores twins, household moving, sisters, ghosts, and family life — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 5-8 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about twins, household moving, sisters.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
7LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780375862205
- Pages
- 183
- Publisher
- Random House Books for Young Readers
- Published
- 2011
- Type
- Fiction
- Lexile
- 440L