The Listeners
Bebe Faas Rice
The Listeners
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Bebe Faas Rice
The text is written at a 4th 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 creak of old floorboards echoes through the quiet mansion, and the cool, musty air wraps around Kathy like a secret. Alone in her new home, she senses eyes watching her from the shadows, whispers just beyond hearing. What if the house holds memories that refuse to stay silent?
Quick Assessment
The Listeners is a middle-grade science fiction novel about a teenage girl who moves into a historic mansion near Washington, D.C., and begins to experience mysterious sensations of being watched. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story explores themes of family, mystery, and the supernatural with an eerie but age-appropriate tone. Parents should note the atmospheric tension and mild suspense that create a spooky but not frightening experience.
Why we rated The Listeners 9LE
The Listeners is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 176 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The Listeners works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate The Listeners 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 Listeners explores family, mystery, science & nature, and adventure — 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 family, mystery, science & nature.
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
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780061062964
- Pages
- 176
- Publisher
- HarperPrism
- Published
- March 1996
- Type
- Fiction