The Vampire's promise
Caroline B. Cooney
The Vampire's promise
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Caroline B. Cooney
The text is written at a 8th 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 vampire has made a promise that could change everything. But this isn’t just any promise—it’s a dangerous deal that pulls you into a world where evil lurks and every choice matters. And that’s only the beginning.
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel blends suspense and supernatural elements as a young protagonist faces a deadly bargain with a vampire. Suitable for ages 9-12, it explores themes of danger and moral choices without graphic content, making it appropriate for readers who enjoy thrilling fiction with a dark twist.
Why we rated The Vampire's promise 12ME
The Vampire's promise is written at a Level 8 reading level across 532 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 9.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The Vampire's promise works for readers up to grade 10.0.
We rate The Vampire's promise as 12ME ("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, physical peril — 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 Vampire's promise explores adventure, fantasy world-building, and mystery — 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 adventure, fantasy world-building, mystery.
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
12ME — 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
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780760761328
- Pages
- 532
- Publisher
- Scholastic
- Published
- 2004
- Type
- Fiction