Almost an outlaw
Molly B. Burnham
Almost an outlaw
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Molly B. Burnham
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
Teddy, known for breaking records, finds himself challenging new rules when his great-aunt Ursula moves in and sets strict limits on everything from juice to pets. Excited at first for a chance to tame his mischievous sibling, Teddy soon discovers that some rules might need bending, especially when neighborhood pigeons face trouble. Packed with humor, lively illustrations, and short chapters, this story celebrates family, courage, and standing up for what’s right.
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 4-5 book with gentle content intensity. No notable content concerns flagged. Written for readers ages 9-12.
Why we rated Almost an outlaw 9C
Almost an outlaw is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 288 pages (approximately 43,944 words). Strong independent readers around grade 5.4 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Almost an outlaw works for readers up to grade 6.4.
Read aloud, Almost an outlaw runs about 4.9 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.
We rate Almost an outlaw 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, Almost an outlaw explores family, siblings, and humor — 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.
- ✓ Readers who like a steady plot with enough momentum to keep pages turning.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about family, siblings, humor.
- ✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there are 2 more books in the Teddy Mars series.
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.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9C — ClearNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
5/10Engaging read with solid pacing and interesting themes.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
More in the Teddy Mars Series
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780062278166
- Pages
- 288
- Publisher
- Katherine Tegen Books
- Published
- 2017
- Type
- Fiction
- Word Count
- 43,944
- Read-Aloud
- ~4h 53m
- Text Density
- Standard