Boggart
Susan Cooper
Boggart
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Susan Cooper
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 gentle with no concerning themes.
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About This Book
The Boggart zips through the bustling streets of Toronto, causing mischief wherever he goes! He’s far from his quiet Scottish castle, and his pranks have the Volnik family on their toes. But when homesickness hits, can Emily and Jessup help him find his way back before his tricks go too far?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Boggart is a humorous middle-grade novel about a mischievous magical creature transported from Scotland to modern Toronto. The story explores themes of friendship, homesickness, and cultural contrast with lighthearted pranks and heartfelt moments. Suitable for ages 9-12, it contains no intense content, making it a safe and enjoyable read for this age group.
Why we rated Boggart 11LE
Boggart is written at a Level 6 reading level across 272 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Boggart works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Boggart as 11LE ("Light — Emotional") 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, Boggart explores humor, magic, friendship, cultural contrast, and family — 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.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about humor, magic, friendship.
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.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11LE — Light — EmotionalNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A 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
- 9780241326817
- Pages
- 272
- Publisher
- Puffin
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction