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The name of the game was murder

Joan Lowery Nixon

Cover of The name of the game was murder

The name of the game was murder

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Joan Lowery Nixon

Reading Level 4-5 Unrated Ages 9-12

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 gentle with no concerning themes.

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About This Book

"If you don't take part, you'll soon regret it", the invitation reads. Samantha's mean-spirited great-uncle, famous novelist Augustus Trevor, has invited--or blackmailed--a group of celebrities to his island mansion to participate in a "game". But when Augustus is found dead, Samantha must join the game. Copyright © Libri GmbH. All rights reserved.

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 4-5 book. No notable content concerns flagged. Written for readers ages 9-12.

Why we rated The name of the game was murder Level 0

The name of the game was murder is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 182 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The name of the game was murder works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate The name of the game was murder as Unrated because the content sits in the "Unrated" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences.

No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the unrated intensity score.

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.

Maybe not for

  • ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.

For Parents

Content Intensity

Level 0 — Unrated
Gentle Mild Moderate Intense Very Intense

This book has not yet been rated for content intensity.

Data confidence: standard

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

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

1/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

1/10

A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
4
Theme Richness
1
World Scope
1
Data Confidence
4

Details

Book Length

182 pages
ISBN
9780440901266
Pages
182
Publisher
Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group
Published
1993
Type
Fiction

Genres

Subjects

Mystery and Detective StoriesMurderAuthorsDetective and Mystery StoriesLarge Type Books