What reading level is A very, very bad thing?

A very, very bad thing by Jeffery Self is at a Level 5-6 reading level (Lexile 860L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is A very, very bad thing appropriate for?

A very, very bad thing is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 10IE (Intense — Emotional). Content flags: Suicide, Prejudice.

What genre is A very, very bad thing?

A very, very bad thing is fiction — YOUNG ADULT FICTION.

Does A very, very bad thing have any content warnings?

A very, very bad thing has a HootRating of 10IE (Intense — Emotional). Content flags include: Suicide, Prejudice. 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 very, very bad thing?

A very, very bad thing by Jeffery Self is 225 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

A very, very bad thing

Jeffery Self

A very, very bad thing

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Jeffery Self

Reading Level 5-6 10IE Ages 9-12 Heads Up

The text is written at a 5th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes.

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About This Book

What would you do if your best friend was sent away to change who they are? Marley thinks everything is perfect when he meets Christopher, but then Christopher disappears to a place where they try to make him different. Now Marley has told a huge lie to protect him, but can he handle what comes next?

Themes

FriendshipHonestyLGBTQ+ RepresentationPrejudicesComing of Age

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel explores themes of friendship, identity, and the impact of prejudice through the story of Marley and Christopher. It touches on serious topics like conversion therapy and suicide in an age-appropriate way for readers ages 9-12, offering opportunities for important conversations about honesty and acceptance. Parents should be aware of the emotional weight surrounding LGBTQ+ issues and the challenges the characters face.

Why we rated A very, very bad thing 10IE

A very, very bad thing is written at a Level 5-6 reading level with a Lexile measure of 860L across 225 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 6.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, A very, very bad thing works for readers up to grade 7.5.

We rate A very, very bad thing as 10IE ("Intense — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Intense" range — intense conflict including peril, frightening scenes, or emotionally heavy themes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, social complexity, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Suicide, Prejudice.

Thematically, A very, very bad thing explores friendship, honesty, lgbtq+ representation, prejudices, and coming of age — 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.
✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, honesty, lgbtq+ representation.

Maybe not for

! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
! Children younger than 9-12 — the content intensity is above what most younger kids can process comfortably.
! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.