Beauty and the Bully
Andy Behrens
Beauty and the Bully
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Andy Behrens
The text is written at a 6th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
What if the thing that finally gets someone to notice you isn't what you expect? Duncan just wants Carly to see him, but when a mysterious bruise catches her eye, everything changes. Can he find a way to keep her attention, or will his plan backfire?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This young adult novel explores themes of bullying, social dynamics, and adolescent emotions through Duncan's attempts to get noticed by Carly. Suitable for ages 13-18, it handles sensitive topics like peer pressure and self-esteem with care. Parents should be aware of the book's focus on social issues related to bullying and emotional challenges.
Why we rated Beauty and the Bully 11ME
Beauty and the Bully is written at a Level 6 reading level across 208 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Beauty and the Bully works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Beauty and the Bully as 11ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, 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 mild intensity score.
Thematically, Beauty and the Bully explores love & romance, bullying, emotions & feelings, friendship, and coming of age — 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.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about love & romance, bullying, emotions & feelings.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11ME — Moderate — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780525478980
- Pages
- 208
- Publisher
- Penguin
- Published
- August 14, 2008
- Type
- Fiction