Dickens & Rumi

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Up from Jericho Tel

Age rating, content warnings & parent guide

E. L. Konigsburg · 1986

Is Up from Jericho Tel 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 Up from Jericho Tel by E. L. Konigsburg. This book is content notes include Death of a character, Alcohol or drugs, Frightening scenes; positive qualities include Creativity & curiosity, Courage & resilience.

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10-second decision

Is this likely to fit your family?

Age guidanceNot listed
Strongest cautionsDeath of a character 3/5 · Alcohol or drugs 2/5 · Frightening scenes 2/5
Strongest positivesCreativity & curiosity 4/5 · Courage & resilience 3/5
Recommendation3.3/5

Creativity & curiosity; 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

Creativity & curiosity; strongest caution: death of a character.

Readiness snapshotMain watch-out: Death of a character 3/5
Recommendation 3.3/5

Editorial rating

How this review was built

Dickens & Rumi editorial
Source checkedPublication method
13Scored categories
13Evidence notes
1Explicit 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 depth13 scored categories13 evidence notes
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At a glance

Recommended ageNot listed

Strongest cautions

  • Death of a character3/5
  • Alcohol or drugs2/5
  • Frightening scenes2/5

Strongest positives

  • Creativity & curiosity4/5
  • Courage & resilience3/5
  • Good role models3/5

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What’s in it?

Death of a character3/5
Why this rating?

Dead animals and the deceased former movie star are central to the plot and its themes of grief and meaning.

Graphic injury1/5
Why this rating?

Mention of burying dead animals, but not in a graphic or gory manner.

Strong language1/5
Why this rating?

The available information suggests mild, age-appropriate language without strong profanity or slurs.

Frightening scenes2/5
Why this rating?

A supernatural encounter, a graveyard, and a dead woman may be eerie, though the tone appears more mysterious than terrifying.

Alcohol or drugs2/5
Why this rating?

Cigarettes are repeatedly used as payment or a plot motivation, though the summary does not indicate that children smoke.

Checked and not flagged

No concern recorded in these categories

These categories were explicitly scored 0/5 in the published review. This is not a guarantee that every edition or reader experience is identical.

Violence · 0/5

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience3/5
Why this rating?

The children show bravery in navigating their mysterious assignment.

Creativity & curiosity4/5
Why this rating?

The children invent a cemetery, investigate an unusual mystery, and engage imaginatively with a supernatural world.

Diverse representation1/5
Why this rating?

Features a diverse set of protagonists in a traditional setting.

Educational value2/5
Why this rating?

Touches on themes of acting, history, and personal growth.

Kindness & empathy3/5
Why this rating?

Empathy and cooperation are central to the protagonists' bond.

Positive messages3/5
Why this rating?

The story highlights friendship, grief, purpose, and understanding what it takes to be a star.

Good role models3/5
Why this rating?

The protagonists grow and develop as they face challenges together.

Family discussion

Talk about it

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

  1. What was the most imaginative idea in the story, and what would you add to it?
  2. How did the story approach death or loss? What helped the characters cope?
  3. Which choice in Up from Jericho Tel would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in Up from Jericho Tel, and what caused that change?
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Community perspective — separate from editorial ratings

What families noticed

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