Dickens & Rumi

book

A DEADLY GAME OF MAGIC

Age rating, content warnings & parent guide

Joan Lowery Nixon · 1983

Is A DEADLY GAME OF MAGIC appropriate for your child? See the reviewed age guidance, content cautions, positive themes, and supporting evidence below.

Explore the age guidance, content cautions, positive qualities, and supporting notes for A DEADLY GAME OF MAGIC by Joan Lowery Nixon. This book is content notes include Death of a character, Frightening scenes, Violence; positive qualities include Courage & resilience, Creativity & curiosity.

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10-second decision

Is this likely to fit your family?

Age guidanceNot listed
Strongest cautionsDeath of a character 3/5 · Frightening scenes 3/5 · Violence 2/5
Strongest positivesCourage & resilience 3/5 · Creativity & curiosity 3/5
Recommendation2.8/5

Courage & resilience; strongest caution: death of a character.

This is the quick scan. Open the evidence and methodology below for the basis behind each rating.

Quick context

What parents should know

Courage & resilience; strongest caution: death of a character.

Readiness snapshotMain watch-out: Death of a character 3/5
Recommendation 2.8/5

Editorial rating

How this review was built

Dickens & Rumi editorial
Source checkedPublication method
12Scored categories
12Evidence notes
0Explicit 0/5 checks
Oct 23, 2026Last updated

Dickens & Rumi describes what is present; families decide what matters to them. Community reactions are kept separate from official content ratings.

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Review depth12 scored categories12 evidence notes
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At a glance

Recommended ageNot listed

Strongest cautions

  • Death of a character3/5
  • Frightening scenes3/5
  • Violence2/5

Strongest positives

  • Courage & resilience3/5
  • Creativity & curiosity3/5
  • Good role models3/5

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What’s in it?

Death of a character3/5
Why this rating?

The danger of death is a central plot device, creating stakes for the characters.

Strong language1/5
Why this rating?

Very mild language, typical of 1980s young adult literature.

Romance1/5
Why this rating?

Light teenage romantic tension is present but not the primary focus.

Frightening scenes3/5
Why this rating?

The setting is atmospheric and tense, designed to induce fear through isolation and mystery.

Violence2/5
Why this rating?

Includes scenes of psychological manipulation and threats of physical harm, though it remains largely suspenseful rather than graphically violent.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience3/5
Why this rating?

Courage is a major theme as characters face their fears to overcome the antagonist.

Creativity & curiosity3/5
Why this rating?

Encourages creative thinking to solve puzzles and escape traps.

Diverse representation1/5
Why this rating?

The available assessment suggests limited representation across backgrounds and identities, but the score is tentative without passages or reliable plot and character details.

Educational value1/5
Why this rating?

Encourages logic and critical thinking through mystery solving.

Kindness & empathy2/5
Why this rating?

Cooperation is essential for survival, promoting teamwork.

Positive messages2/5
Why this rating?

The book emphasizes critical thinking and the importance of resourcefulness in difficult situations.

Good role models3/5
Why this rating?

Characters display bravery and collaboration under pressure.

Family discussion

Talk about it

Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

  1. What did courage look like in this story? Was being brave always the same as being fearless?
  2. How did the story approach death or loss? What helped the characters cope?
  3. Which choice in A DEADLY GAME OF MAGIC would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in A DEADLY GAME OF MAGIC, and what caused that change?
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Community perspective — separate from editorial ratings

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Community ratings and written reactions are a separate layer. They do not automatically change Dickens & Rumi’s official age guidance or content scores.

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