Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated
An Abundance of Katherines
John Green
The text is written at a 5th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes. Its HootRating code, ME, means moderate content, mostly emotional.
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About This Book
Have you ever wondered if there's a way to predict the future of every relationship? Colin Singleton has been dumped by nineteen girls named Katherine, and now he's on a wild road trip with his best friend, a hungry hog chasing them, and a big math theory to prove. Can Colin crack the code to love, or will the mystery of the Katherines keep him guessing?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Colin, a former child prodigy, is repeatedly dumped by girls named Katherine, so he sets off on a road trip with his best friend to test a theorem about relationships. Expect heartbreak, rejection, and a tense hog chase, along with mild romance and some reflection on self-image and growing up. The tone is comic and tender, and the story's emotional honesty suits readers who can handle both humor and sadness.
Why we rated An Abundance of Katherines ME (Moderate)
An Abundance of Katherines is written at a Level 5-6 reading level across 227 pages. Upper Grades (Ages 13+) is the typical interest range for this book — readers in that age band have the maturity and attention span suited to the story, separate from whether they can decode the words.
We rate An Abundance of Katherines as ME (Moderate, mostly emotional) because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, physical peril, social complexity — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.
Thematically, An Abundance of Katherines explores friendship, coming of age, family, humor, and adventure — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, coming of age, family.
- ✓ Readers (and parents) who care about award-recognized writing — An Abundance of Katherines carries an award.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
For Parents
Content Intensity
ME · Moderate · EmotionalReading the HootRating code: the first letter is the content intensity (C = Gentle · L = Mild · M = Moderate · I = Intense · V = Very Intense); the second, when there is one, is the kind of content that drives it (E = Emotional · P = Physical · S = Social · T = Thematic). Reading level and age range are rated separately. How we rate
Real stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Discussion Potential
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780525476887
- Pages
- 227
- Publisher
- Penguin
- Published
- 2006
- Type
- Fiction