The house on the gulf
Margaret Peterson Haddix
The house on the gulf
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Margaret Peterson Haddix
The text is written at a 6th 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
The old house creaks under the summer sun as you step inside to watch a sixteen-year-old boy settle in for what should be a quiet housesitting job. But something shifts—his family moves in, and suddenly he’s not himself anymore. What secret is hiding within these walls, and why does his sister feel like they shouldn’t be there at all?
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade mystery follows a sixteen-year-old boy who takes a housesitting job for the summer, only for strange changes to occur once his family moves in. The story explores themes of family dynamics and mystery, suitable for readers aged 9-12. There is mild suspense but no intense content, making it appropriate for this age group.
Why we rated The house on the gulf 11LE
The house on the gulf is written at a Level 6 reading level across 201 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The house on the gulf works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate The house on the gulf as 11LE ("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 house on the gulf explores family, mystery, housesitting, and grandparents — 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 family, mystery, housesitting.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780439699709
- Pages
- 201
- Publisher
- Scholastic
- Published
- 2004
- Type
- Fiction