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Bubbles

Abby Cooper

Cover of Bubbles

Bubbles

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

A Novel

by Abby Cooper

Reading Level 4-5 9LE Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.

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About This Book

Sophie isn’t just any twelve-year-old—she can see people’s thoughts floating around like bubbles! When her mom feels really sad, Sophie takes on a triathlon for a school project about risk-taking. But juggling her secret power and the race might be harder than she ever imagined.

Themes

Risk-takingMiddle schoolsFamilyMental HealthFriendship

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel follows twelve-year-old Sophie as she navigates family challenges and a school project on risk-taking, discovering a unique ability to see thoughts as bubbles. It sensitively addresses themes of mental health, family bonds, and personal courage, making it suitable for readers aged 9 to 12. Parents should note the book touches on depression in a gentle, age-appropriate manner.

Why we rated Bubbles 9LE

Bubbles is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 710L across 262 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Bubbles works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate Bubbles as 9LE ("Light — 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, Bubbles explores risk-taking, middle schools, family, mental health, and friendship — 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 risk-taking, middle schools, family.

Maybe not for

  • ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.

For Parents

Content Intensity

9LE — Light — Emotional
Emotional
Light
Physical
Light
Social
Clear
Thematic
Light

Light conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.

Data confidence: high

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

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

1/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

2/10

A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
4
Emotional Weight
4
Theme Richness
5
World Scope
1
Data Confidence
7

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Details

Book Length

262 pages
ISBN
9780374302900
Pages
262
Publisher
Farrar, Straus & Giroux (BYR)
Published
2017
Type
Fiction
Lexile
710L

Genres

Subjects

Risk-takingMiddle SchoolsSchoolsMothers and DaughtersFriendshipExtrasensory Perception