Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated
Attack of the mutant
Robert Lawrence Stine
The text is written at a 3rd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material. Its HootRating code, LP, means mild content, mostly physical.
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About This Book
Skipper Matthews loves his comic books, especially the thrilling tales of The Masked Mutant, a notorious supervillain. When Skipper stumbles upon a mysterious building that seems to vanish and reappear, he wonders if the villain from his stories might be real. This spooky adventure will keep readers on the edge as reality and fantasy start to blur.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 3-4 book with mild content intensity. Content themes include mild peril, fantasy violence. Written for readers ages 9-12.
Why we rated Attack of the mutant LP (Mild)
Attack of the mutant is written at a Level 3-4 reading level across 117 pages (approximately 19,628 words). Reading-wise, most kids in grade 5 and up can manage Attack of the mutant on their own; younger readers can enjoy it with a parent or teacher reading along.
Read aloud, Attack of the mutant runs about 2.2 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.
We rate Attack of the mutant as LP (Mild, mostly physical) because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mild Peril, Fantasy Violence.
Thematically, Attack of the mutant explores horror, adventure, and friendship — 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 horror, adventure, friendship.
- ✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there are 78 more books in the Goosebumps series.
Maybe not for
- ! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.
For Parents
Content Intensity
LP · Mild · PhysicalReading 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
Light conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Content Flags
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
6/10Engaging read with solid pacing and interesting themes.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0590483552
- Pages
- 117
- Publisher
- Scholastic
- Published
- 1994
- Type
- Fiction
- Word Count
- 19,628
- Read-Aloud
- ~2h 11m
- Text Density
- Standard