The Sleepwalker
Robert Lawrence Stine
The Sleepwalker
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Fear Street #6
by Robert Lawrence Stine
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
What if you woke up far from home with no memory of how you got there? Imagine sleepwalking through shadowy streets, feeling like danger is just around the corner. Mayra Bates has to uncover the secret behind her nighttime journeys before it's too late.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction book explores the mysterious and potentially dangerous phenomenon of sleepwalking through the story of Mayra Bates. Suitable for readers aged 9-12, it addresses themes of fear and self-discovery in an age-appropriate manner without graphic content. Parents should note the tension and mild peril elements typical of suspenseful fiction.
Why we rated The Sleepwalker 9LE
The Sleepwalker is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 164 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The Sleepwalker works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate The Sleepwalker 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 Sleepwalker explores sleepwalking, mystery, fear & anxiety, and self-discovery — 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 sleepwalking, mystery, fear & anxiety.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
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
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780671746520
- Pages
- 164
- Publisher
- Simon and Schuster
- Published
- 1990
- Type
- Fiction