Burpstronauts
M. D. Payne
Burpstronauts
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by M. D. Payne
Illustrated by Dockery, Amanda, illustrator
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
Here's a secret: Chris and his friends have just landed on the moon, but that’s not the coolest part. They’re thinking about drinking monster juice to battle acid-belching monsters lurking nearby—but that’s only the beginning.
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction book follows Chris and his friends as they embark on a moon adventure, facing unusual challenges like acid-belching monsters. Suitable for ages 9-12, it combines humor and fantasy elements centered around friendship and bravery. Parents should note the playful depiction of monsters and mild, imaginative peril.
Why we rated Burpstronauts 9LP
Burpstronauts is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 189 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Burpstronauts works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Burpstronauts as 9LP ("Light — Physical") 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, Burpstronauts explores adventure, friendship, fantasy world-building, and humor — 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 adventure, friendship, fantasy world-building.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LP — Light — PhysicalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" 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
- 9781424262120
- Pages
- 189
- Publisher
- Grosset & Dunlap, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) LLC
- Published
- 2014
- Type
- Fiction