Cliques, Phonies and Other Baloney
Trevor Romain
Cliques, Phonies and Other Baloney
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Trevor Romain
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
Cliques might sound like a silly word, but they can really make school life tricky. What if you found out that being 'phony' is just plain baloney and true friends never leave you out—online or in person? Discover why popularity isn't everything and how real friendship can make all the difference.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This updated middle-grade book uses humor and cartoons to explore the challenges of social cliques and exclusion, including online interactions. It offers practical advice for children ages 9-12 on navigating friendships, understanding social dynamics, and valuing genuine connections over popularity. The content is appropriate for this age group, focusing on social skills and emotional intelligence without heavy themes.
Why we rated Cliques, Phonies and Other Baloney 9MS
Cliques, Phonies and Other Baloney is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 114 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Cliques, Phonies and Other Baloney works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Cliques, Phonies and Other Baloney as 9MS ("Moderate — Social") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. The strongest signals come from social complexity — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, Cliques, Phonies and Other Baloney explores friendship, interpersonal relations, humor, social media, and coping skills — 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, interpersonal relations, humor.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9MS — Moderate — SocialLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A 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
- 9781631982446
- Pages
- 114
- Publisher
- Free Spirit Publishing
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction