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The talking table mystery

Georgess McHargue

Cover of The talking table mystery

The talking table mystery

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Georgess McHargue

Reading Level 4-5 9LE Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

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 diary slips from her hands as shadows close in around the alley. He clutches the book tight, heart pounding—who wants it so badly? The footsteps behind them grow louder, and suddenly, they realize they're not alone.

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade mystery follows a boy and a girl who discover a mysterious diary that attracts unwanted attention from a secretive group. Suitable for ages 9-12, it offers an engaging detective story with suspenseful moments but contains no intense violence or mature themes.

Why we rated The talking table mystery 9LE

The talking table mystery is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 140 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The talking table mystery works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate The talking table mystery 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 talking table mystery explores mystery, adventure, and friendship — 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 mystery, adventure, friendship.

Maybe not for

  • ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.

For Parents

Content Intensity

9LE — Light — Emotional
Emotional
Light
Physical
Light
Social
Clear
Thematic
Light

Light conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.

Data confidence: standard

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

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

3/10

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
Emotional Weight
4
Theme Richness
3
World Scope
1
Data Confidence
7

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Details

Book Length

140 pages
ISBN
9780440487869
Pages
140
Publisher
Yearling
Published
1982
Type
Fiction

Genres

Subjects

Detective and Mystery StoriesMystery and Detective Stories