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Clarice Bean, Don't Look Now (Clarice Bean)

Lauren Child

Cover of Clarice Bean, Don't Look Now (Clarice Bean)

Clarice Bean, Don't Look Now (Clarice Bean)

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Lauren Child

Reading Level 6 11LE Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

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

Clarice Bean is scribbling down her 'worst worries' when a new problem suddenly crashes into her day. She’s juggling tricky friendship troubles and unexpected challenges all at once. Can the survival tricks she’s learned really help her now?

Themes

FriendshipHumorSocial Issues

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade fiction book follows Clarice Bean as she navigates common social challenges and friendship issues with humor and insight. It’s suitable for ages 9-12 and offers relatable scenarios about managing worries and social situations. The story is lighthearted with positive messages about problem-solving and resilience.

Why we rated Clarice Bean, Don't Look Now (Clarice Bean) 11LE

Clarice Bean, Don't Look Now (Clarice Bean) is written at a Level 6 reading level across 256 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Clarice Bean, Don't Look Now (Clarice Bean) works for readers up to grade 8.0.

We rate Clarice Bean, Don't Look Now (Clarice Bean) as 11LE ("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, Clarice Bean, Don't Look Now (Clarice Bean) explores friendship, humor, and social issues — 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 friendship, humor, social issues.

Maybe not for

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

For Parents

Content Intensity

11LE — Light — Emotional
Emotional
Light
Physical
Clear
Social
Light
Thematic
Clear

Light conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.

Data confidence: standard

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

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

2/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

1/10

A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
5
Emotional Weight
4
Theme Richness
3
World Scope
1
Data Confidence
7

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Details

Book Length

256 pages
ISBN
9780763635367
Pages
256
Publisher
Candlewick Press
Published
August 14, 2007
Type
Fiction

Genres

Subjects

Social IssuesSocial SituationsHumorous StoriesFriendshipChangeWorryConduct of LifeFamily LifeInterpersonal RelationsClarice BeanMystery and Detective StoriesFamilyEmotions