Dickens & Rumi

book

The Haunted School

Carol Drinkwater · 1988

Explore the age guidance, content cautions, positive qualities, and supporting notes for The Haunted School by Carol Drinkwater. This book is content notes include Frightening scenes, Death of a character, Violence; positive qualities include Courage & resilience, Creativity & curiosity.

Source checked

Quick view

At a glance

Recommended ageNot listed

Strongest cautions

  • Frightening scenes3/5
  • Death of a character2/5
  • Violence1/5

Strongest positives

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

What’s in it?

Death of a character2/5
Why this rating?

Mention of historical deaths or ghosts, common in mystery stories.

Frightening scenes3/5
Why this rating?

A haunted-school setting and supernatural mystery suggest sustained eerie suspense, but the available descriptions do not establish intense peril or frightening detail.

Violence1/5
Why this rating?

Minor conflicts typical of children's mystery fiction.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience3/5
Why this rating?

The protagonist shows significant bravery in exploring the unknown.

Creativity & curiosity3/5
Why this rating?

Encourages imaginative investigation and critical thinking.

Diverse representation1/5
Why this rating?

The story appears centered on a specific rural French setting, with little evidence available about broader representation or character diversity.

Educational value1/5
Why this rating?

The setting may offer incidental cultural context about rural France, but teaching factual knowledge does not appear to be the main purpose.

Kindness & empathy2/5
Why this rating?

Characters show empathy toward neighbors and local legends.

Positive messages3/5
Why this rating?

The story likely supports courage, curiosity, cooperation, and facing fears, though the precise moral emphasis is not well documented.

Good role models3/5
Why this rating?

Young characters appear likely to show curiosity and initiative while investigating the mystery, but their judgment and development cannot be firmly assessed.

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. Which moment felt most tense or frightening? What helped the characters handle fear?
  3. Which choice in The Haunted School would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in The Haunted School, and what caused that change?
Discuss this title with other parents

Community reactions

What families noticed

Add your perspective

Sign in from the homepage to rate this title.

Where to get it

Find in a libraryBuy on Bookshop.orgBuy on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate and Bookshop.org affiliate, Dickens & Rumi may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

These content notes are a starting point, not a guarantee. Review the evidence and use your own judgment before choosing a title.

Report an incorrect rating