The withered man.
John Creasey
The withered man.
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by John Creasey
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
There's a man who has vanished from the world, but whispers say he might be closer than anyone thinks. Secrets hide in shadows, and every clue uncovered pulls you deeper into a mystery that won't let go. But that's only the beginning.
Quick Assessment
The Withered Man is a middle-grade mystery novel suitable for readers aged 9 to 12. It features a detective story with suspenseful elements and puzzles that encourage critical thinking. The book contains mild tension typical of the genre but is appropriate for its target age group.
Why we rated The withered man. 9LE
The withered man. is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 191 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The withered man. works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate The withered man. 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 withered man. explores mystery, detective, and adventure — 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, detective, adventure.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
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
3/10A 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
- 0679503773
- Pages
- 191
- Publisher
- David McKay Company
- Published
- 1974
- Type
- Fiction