Age rating and parents' guide:The Secret Lake

by Karen Inglis

Ages 9–11

The Secret Lake by Karen Inglis is best for children aged 9–11. It has no violence, a few mildly scary moments, no romance and no bad language.

Stella and Tom discover a hidden lake and become entangled in a decades-old mystery involving a missing child.

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Content ratings

How much of each a parent can expect, from none to strong.

Violence: None
Scary moments: Mild
Romance: None
Bad language: None

Content checked by Dhiraj Bodade, co-founder of Bookstaken, on 21 September 2026.

At a glance

Early chapter book
Easy to get into from the first page
Plenty of illustrations
Emotionally light
A good pick for reluctant readers

Great for kids who like

Mystery & Detective

Reading mood

Mysterious

Good to talk about

Mystery & Detective

Books like The Secret Lake

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The Mysteries of Harris Burdick
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Fourteen mysterious illustrations, supposedly left by Harris Burdick, invite readers to imagine the strange stories behind them.
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Ages 9–11
Sindhu and Jeet's Detective Agency
by Chitra Soundar
Young detectives Sindhu and Jeet investigate puzzling cases in their neighborhood using observation, teamwork, and logic.
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Ages 9–11
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library
by Chris Grabenstein
Children trapped overnight in an extraordinary library must solve elaborate puzzles created by famous game-maker Luigi Lemoncello.
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Gangsta Granny
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Ben expects another boring visit with Granny, then discovers her secret past and joins an outrageous jewel-heist adventure.
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Geronimo Stilton (series)
by Geronimo Stilton (created by Elisabetta Dami)
Mouse journalist Geronimo Stilton reluctantly travels into dangerous mysteries and comic adventures while trying to meet publishing deadlines.
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The Boxcar Children
by Gertrude Chandler Warner
Four orphaned siblings create a home in an abandoned boxcar before finding family, security, and many mysteries to solve.
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Questions parents ask

Q: What age is The Secret Lake for?

The Secret Lake suits children aged 9–11. It is an early chapter book: easy to get into from the first page, plenty of illustrations.

Q: Is The Secret Lake appropriate for a 9 year old?

Yes. Bookstaken rates it for ages 9–11. It has no violence, a few mildly scary moments, no romance and no bad language.

Q: What should my child read after The Secret Lake?

Try The Mysteries of Harris Burdick, Sindhu and Jeet's Detective Agency and Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library. They share the same kind of story and suit the same ages.

Age rating and parents' guideThe Secret Lake

by Karen Inglis

Ages 9–11

The Secret Lake by Karen Inglis is best for children aged 9–11. It has no violence, a few mildly scary moments, no romance and no bad language.

Stella and Tom discover a hidden lake and become entangled in a decades-old mystery involving a missing child.

Books like The Secret Lake

Similar stories for the same ages, none more intense than this one should be for its youngest readers.

Ages 6–14

The Mysteries of Harris Burdick

by Chris Van Allsburg

Fourteen mysterious illustrations, supposedly left by Harris Burdick, invite readers to imagine the strange stories behind them.

Know more Get book

Ages 9–11

Sindhu and Jeet's Detective Agency

by Chitra Soundar

Young detectives Sindhu and Jeet investigate puzzling cases in their neighborhood using observation, teamwork, and logic.

Know more Get book

Ages 9–11

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library

by Chris Grabenstein

Children trapped overnight in an extraordinary library must solve elaborate puzzles created by famous game-maker Luigi Lemoncello.

Know more Get book

Ages 9–11

Gangsta Granny

by David Walliams

Ben expects another boring visit with Granny, then discovers her secret past and joins an outrageous jewel-heist adventure.

Know more Get book

Ages 6–11

Geronimo Stilton (series)

by Geronimo Stilton (created by Elisabetta Dami)

Mouse journalist Geronimo Stilton reluctantly travels into dangerous mysteries and comic adventures while trying to meet publishing deadlines.

Know more Get book

Ages 6–11

The Boxcar Children

by Gertrude Chandler Warner

Four orphaned siblings create a home in an abandoned boxcar before finding family, security, and many mysteries to solve.

Know more Get book

Questions parents ask

Q: What age is The Secret Lake for?

The Secret Lake suits children aged 9–11. It is an early chapter book: easy to get into from the first page, plenty of illustrations.

Q: Is The Secret Lake appropriate for a 9 year old?

Yes. Bookstaken rates it for ages 9–11. It has no violence, a few mildly scary moments, no romance and no bad language.

Q: What should my child read after The Secret Lake?

Try The Mysteries of Harris Burdick, Sindhu and Jeet's Detective Agency and Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library. They share the same kind of story and suit the same ages.