Boy Who Kicked Pigs
Tom Baker
Boy Who Kicked Pigs
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Tom Baker
Illustrated by David Roberts
The text is written at a 3rd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes.
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About This Book
What if a boy’s anger turned into something wild and scary? Robert Caligari hates people so much that he starts causing chaos in a way no one expects. But when his revenge begins, things get truly out of control—what will happen next?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This dark, humorous horror-fantasy follows thirteen-year-old Robert Caligari, whose intense dislike for others leads to unsettling acts of revenge. Suitable for teens due to its grotesque and subversive content, the story explores themes of anger and alienation with graphic and mature elements. Parents should be aware of the book’s intense tone and disturbing scenarios.
Why we rated Boy Who Kicked Pigs 8IE
Boy Who Kicked Pigs is written at a Level 3 reading level across 96 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 4.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Boy Who Kicked Pigs works for readers up to grade 5.0.
We rate Boy Who Kicked Pigs as 8IE ("Intense — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Intense" range — intense conflict including peril, frightening scenes, or emotionally heavy themes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, physical peril, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Dark Subject Matter, Fantasy Violence.
Thematically, Boy Who Kicked Pigs explores coming of age, dark humor, fantasy world-building, and identity & self-discovery — 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 coming of age, dark humor, fantasy world-building.
Maybe not for
- ! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
- ! Children younger than 13+ — the content intensity is above what most younger kids can process comfortably.
- ! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
8IE — Intense — EmotionalHeavy themes explored in depth. War, death, abuse addressed directly.
Content Flags
Was our "Intense" 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
- 9780571197712
- Pages
- 96
- Publisher
- Faber Faber Inc
- Published
- December 1, 1999
- Type
- Fiction