The Hand of Power
Robert Lawrence Stine
The Hand of Power
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Fear Street Sagas #16
by Robert Lawrence Stine
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
There’s a secret hidden deep inside Peter Sturdevant’s spooky mansion—one that can change everything. Margarete Fier thought she was safe after being saved from danger, but that’s only the beginning.
Quick Assessment
This young adult horror novel follows Margarete Fier as she discovers a mysterious power within a haunted mansion after being rescued from a dangerous situation. Appropriate for teens, it contains spooky themes and mild suspense typical of ghost stories but no graphic content.
Why we rated The Hand of Power 9LE
The Hand of Power is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 181 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The Hand of Power works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate The Hand of Power 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 Hand of Power explores horror & ghost stories, adventure, and mystery — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about horror & ghost stories, adventure, 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
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780307248053
- Pages
- 181
- Publisher
- Golden Books Pub
- Published
- 1999
- Type
- Fiction