Checking on the moon
Jenny Davis
Checking on the moon
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Jenny Davis
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 mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
Cab isn’t just any thirteen-year-old—she’s the heart of a bustling restaurant in a neighborhood where every day is an adventure. From secret recipes to keeping an eye out for trouble, Cab’s summer is anything but ordinary. And in a place where danger lurks, her courage could change everything.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows thirteen-year-old Cab as she spends her summer helping her grandmother run a small restaurant in a challenging Pittsburgh neighborhood. The story explores themes of community, neighborhood safety, and family bonds, making it appropriate for readers aged 9-12. Parents should note the depiction of a decaying urban setting and neighborhood crime watch, which are presented thoughtfully and without graphic content.
Why we rated Checking on the moon 11LS
Checking on the moon is written at a Level 6 reading level across 208 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Checking on the moon works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Checking on the moon as 11LS ("Light — Social") 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, Checking on the moon explores family, community, neighborhood watch, restaurants, and urban life — 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 family, community, neighborhood watch.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11LS — Light — SocialLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" 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
- 053105960X
- Pages
- 208
- Publisher
- Orchard Books (NY)
- Published
- 1991
- Type
- Fiction