The name of the game was murder
Joan Lowery Nixon
The name of the game was murder
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Joan Lowery Nixon
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
Here’s a secret: a mysterious invitation arrives for Samantha, daring her to play a deadly game on a spooky island. Her grumpy great-uncle, a famous writer, has set the stage—but then, he suddenly dies. And that’s only the beginning.
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade mystery features Samantha, who is drawn into a dangerous game on her great-uncle's island after his unexpected death. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story involves themes of murder and suspense, with no graphic content, making it a thrilling yet age-appropriate read for young mystery fans.
Why we rated The name of the game was murder 9ME
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 9ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.
Thematically, The name of the game was murder explores mystery, adventure, family, and coming of age — 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 ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about mystery, adventure, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780440901266
- Pages
- 182
- Publisher
- Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group
- Published
- 1993
- Type
- Fiction