Blue in the face
Gerry Swallow
Blue in the face
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Story of Risk, Rhyme, and Rebellion
by Gerry Swallow
Illustrated by Fabbretti, Valerio, illustrator
The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.
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About This Book
What if the world you know is hiding a wild secret just waiting for a reluctant hero to save it? Imagine stepping into a story full of laughs and surprises, where nothing is quite what it seems. Can one kid turn the ordinary upside down and become the hero everyone needs?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Blue in the Face is a humorous middle-grade novel featuring a reluctant hero who discovers that the familiar world holds unexpected secrets. Suitable for ages 9-12, it combines adventure with witty storytelling and black-and-white illustrations. The book explores themes of bravery, self-discovery, and the conduct of life in a fun, accessible way.
Why we rated Blue in the face 12C
Blue in the face is written at a Level 7 reading level across 308 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Blue in the face works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Blue in the face as 12C ("Clear") because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.
Thematically, Blue in the face explores humor, adventure, coming of age, friendship, and juvenile fiction — 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about humor, adventure, coming of age.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12C — ClearNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781619634879
- Pages
- 308
- Publisher
- Bloomsbury Publishing USA
- Published
- 2016
- Type
- Fiction