What reading level is A mischief of mermaids?

A mischief of mermaids by Suzanne Harper is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 780L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is A mischief of mermaids appropriate for?

A mischief of mermaids is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9C (Clear).

What genre is A mischief of mermaids?

A mischief of mermaids is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does A mischief of mermaids have any content warnings?

A mischief of mermaids has a HootRating of 9C (Clear). No specific content flags noted. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is A mischief of mermaids?

A mischief of mermaids by Suzanne Harper is 273 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated August 1, 2026

A mischief of mermaids

Suzanne Harper

A mischief of mermaids

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Suzanne Harper

Reading Level 4-5 9C Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.

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About This Book

What if your sister suddenly turned into a mermaid? Nine-year-old Poppy Malone’s family investigates all things spooky and strange, but now it’s up to her to solve a magical mess at Lake Travis. Can she save her sister before the magic becomes permanent?

Themes

Humor FamilyFantasyAdventure

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel follows Poppy Malone, a young scientific-minded paranormal investigator, as she navigates a magical mishap that transforms her sister into a mermaid. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story blends humor with fantasy elements and family dynamics, offering lighthearted entertainment without intense content.

Why we rated A mischief of mermaids 9C

A mischief of mermaids is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 780L across 273 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, A mischief of mermaids works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate A mischief of mermaids as 9C ("Clear") because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.

No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.

Thematically, A mischief of mermaids explores humor, family, fantasy, and adventure — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.

Good fit for

✓ Children in the Ages 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about humor, family, fantasy.

Maybe not for

! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.