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The Hound of the Baskervilles

Arthur Conan Doyle

Cover of The Hound of the Baskervilles

The Hound of the Baskervilles

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

From the Story by Arthur Conan Doyle

by Arthur Conan Doyle

Usborne Classics

Reading Level 5-6 10LE Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 5th 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

Detective Sherlock Holmes and his loyal friend Dr. Watson venture into the misty moors of Dartmoor to unravel the eerie mystery of Sir Charles Baskerville’s death, rumored to be caused by a terrifying supernatural hound. Together, they face chilling clues and dark secrets in a thrilling quest for the truth.

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 5-6 book with mild content intensity. Content themes include mild peril, fantasy violence, fear & anxiety. Written for readers ages 9-12.

Why we rated The Hound of the Baskervilles 10LE

The Hound of the Baskervilles is written at a Level 5-6 reading level across 164 pages (approximately 32,597 words). Strong independent readers around grade 6.9 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The Hound of the Baskervilles works for readers up to grade 7.9.

Read aloud, The Hound of the Baskervilles runs about 3.6 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.

We rate The Hound of the Baskervilles as 10LE ("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.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mild Peril, Fantasy Violence, Fear & Anxiety.

Thematically, The Hound of the Baskervilles explores mystery, adventure, friendship, and family — 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.
  • Readers who like a steady plot with enough momentum to keep pages turning.
  • Kids drawn to stories about mystery, adventure, friendship.

Maybe not for

  • ! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.

For Parents

Content Intensity

10LE — Light — Emotional
Emotional
Light
Physical
Light
Social
Clear
Thematic
Clear

Light conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.

Content Flags

Mild Peril Fantasy Violence Fear & Anxiety
Data confidence: standard

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

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

6/10

Engaging read with solid pacing and interesting themes.

Discussion Potential

2/10

A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
5
Emotional Weight
4
Narrative Pace
5
Theme Richness
7
World Scope
1
Data Confidence
7

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Details

Book Length

164 pages
32,597 words
3h 37m read-aloud
ISBN
0794505740
Pages
164
Publisher
Usborne Books
Published
2003
Type
Fiction
Word Count
32,597
Read-Aloud
~3h 37m
Text Density
Standard

Genres