I have to agree with Curly. Would be interested to hear what context it is in and what the previous lessons/books etc that are being read behind it all.

My first reaction is to be gobsmacked but then I think about when I was about that age I used to love playing Cluedo (the boardgame) and taht was all about guessing where the murder was and what with.

As a child though I never thought about gory stuff. I didnt really think about it at all.

Let us know how you go at the school.