Ban This Book

Name: Ban This Book
Author: Alan Gratz
ISBN: 9780765385567

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

A Novel

by Alan Gratz

Reading Level 6 LE · Mild · Emotional Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 6th 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, LE, means mild content, mostly emotional.

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About This Book

Have you ever wondered what happens when your favorite book disappears from the library? Imagine a brave girl who refuses to let her story be silenced, so she creates a secret library in her school locker. But can she keep her rebellious collection hidden, or will the school discover her daring plan?

Themes

Friendship Coming of Age Family Social Justice Adventure

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade fiction novel follows a determined young girl who challenges the banning of her favorite book by establishing an unauthorized locker library at school. It addresses themes of censorship, freedom of expression, and standing up for what you believe in, making it suitable for readers aged 9-12. Parents should note the story includes discussions around book banning but remains age-appropriate and inspiring.

Why we rated Ban This Book LE (Mild)

Ban This Book is written at a Level 6 reading level across 256 pages. Reading-wise, most kids in grade 7 and up can manage Ban This Book on their own; younger readers can enjoy it with a parent or teacher reading along.

We rate Ban This Book as LE (Mild, mostly emotional) 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.

No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.

Thematically, Ban This Book explores friendship, coming of age, family, social justice, and adventure — 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 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.

Maybe not for

! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.

For Parents

Content Intensity

LE · Mild · Emotional

Emotional

Mild ←

Physical

Gentle

Social

Mild

Thematic

Mild

Reading 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.

Data confidence: standard

Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?