Zombie, or Not to Be
Kyle Sullivan
Zombie, or Not to Be
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Kyle Sullivan
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
Here's a secret: Edda isn’t your average zombie—she’s a science whiz caught in a world where people don’t believe in facts. She’s facing a climate crisis and a sneaky aunt who wants to take over everything, but that’s only the beginning.
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel offers a humorous and clever retelling of Shakespeare’s Hamlet through the eyes of Edda, a science-minded zombie teenager. It addresses themes like climate change and the importance of science in a way that’s accessible and engaging for ages 9-12. Parents should note the book includes some mild fantasy violence and tackles complex topics with a lighthearted tone.
Why we rated Zombie, or Not to Be 11MT
Zombie, or Not to Be is written at a Level 6 reading level across 220 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Zombie, or Not to Be works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Zombie, or Not to Be as 11MT ("Moderate — Thematic") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. The strongest signals come from thematic difficulty — 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 mild intensity score.
Thematically, Zombie, or Not to Be explores humor, adventure, fantasy world-building, science & nature, and family — 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 humor, adventure, fantasy world-building.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11MT — Moderate — ThematicLight 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
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781948931137
- Pages
- 220
- Publisher
- Hazy Fables
- Published
- 2020
- Type
- Fiction