Unearthly things
Michelle Gagnon
Unearthly things
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Michelle Gagnon
The text is written at a 6th 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
Janie races through the dark halls of the Rochester mansion, heart pounding as eerie screams echo from the attic above. The fog swirls outside, and no one else seems to hear what she does. What secrets hide in the shadows of this grand old house?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows Janie, a young girl who, after losing her parents, moves from Hawaii to live with unfamiliar guardians in San Francisco. The story combines themes of loss, belonging, and supernatural mystery appropriate for ages 9-12, with mild suspense and ghost story elements. Parents should note the story includes references to grief and eerie, unexplained noises that contribute to a spooky atmosphere.
Why we rated Unearthly things 11LE
Unearthly things is written at a Level 6 reading level across 278 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Unearthly things works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Unearthly things as 11LE ("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, Unearthly things explores ghost stories, secrets, guardian and ward, orphans, and fiction — 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 ghost stories, secrets, guardian and ward.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A 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
- 9781616956967
- Pages
- 278
- Publisher
- Soho Press
- Published
- 2017
- Type
- Fiction