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Cover of Painted Devil

Painted Devil

Michael Bedard (1994)

SubgenreHigh Fantasy
Age groupMiddle Grade 8-12
Content ratingPG
Pages (Quick Read (<250))
SeriesA Darker Magic #2
Setting
CSM age10
Goodreads3.64
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Content levels

ViolenceMild
Sexual contentNone
LanguageNone

Trigger warnings

Manipulation

Positive tags

MysteryFriendshipSelf-Discovery

Heroine archetypes

Coming-of-Age HeroineDetective / Investigator

Protagonist archetypes

Coming-of-Age Protagonist

Tropes

Sinister RelativeHaunted LocationAncient Evil ReturnsMysteryHidden Identity

Themes

EvilMysteryPast SecretsComing of AgeFamily Secrets

Synopsis

A visit from strange Aunt Emily invokes in Alice a foreboding sense of evil, as they find connections between the local library's collection of old puppets and a sinister magic show that took place twenty-eight years earlier.

Is Painted Devil appropriate for my child?

Suitable for most readers 10 and up.

This atmospheric middle grade mystery contains eerie supernatural elements and a sinister magic show from the past, but keeps violence offscreen and focuses on investigation and discovery rather than graphic content.

What to know going in

This book has mild violence, no sexual content, and clean language. Content notes include manipulation.

Who'll love this

Readers who love spooky mysteries with puppets, old magic shows, and uncovering dark secrets from the past will find this creepy and compelling.

Tags

Gothic HorrorMysterySupernatural Thriller