Bad

Bad is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 181 pages (approximately 47,901 words). Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Bad works for readers up to grade 6.5.

Read aloud, Bad runs about 5.3 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.

We rate Bad as 9MN ("Moderate — Neutral") 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, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Juvenile Delinquency, Family Change, Emotional Conflict.

Thematically, Bad explores coming of age, family, friendship, and social justice — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers. Each of these themes is concrete enough to seed a real conversation, not just a moral lesson.