What reading level is Dear Mr. Washington?

Dear Mr. Washington by Lynn Cullen is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 760L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Dear Mr. Washington appropriate for?

Dear Mr. Washington is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9C (Clear).

What genre is Dear Mr. Washington?

Dear Mr. Washington is fiction — Behavior.

Does Dear Mr. Washington have any content warnings?

Dear Mr. Washington has a HootRating of 9C (Clear). No specific content flags noted. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Dear Mr. Washington?

Dear Mr. Washington by Lynn Cullen is 32 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

Dear Mr. Washington

Lynn Cullen

Dear Mr. Washington

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Lynn Cullen

Reading Level 4-5 9C 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 gentle with no concerning themes.

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About This Book

What would you do if you had to prove you could be polite and well-behaved to someone as important as George Washington? Charlotte Stuart and her brothers are learning how to follow the rules of good manners while their dad paints a portrait of the famous leader. But can they keep up with the challenge and impress Mr. Washington?

Themes

BehaviorEtiquetteLettersBrothers and sistersFamily Historical

Quick Assessment

Set in 1796, this historical fiction uses a series of letters from Charlotte Stuart to George Washington to explore themes of behavior, manners, and family dynamics. Suitable for ages 9-12, it provides gentle lessons in etiquette alongside an introduction to early American history. The book includes historical notes for added context and is appropriate for middle-grade readers without intense content.

Why we rated Dear Mr. Washington 9C

Dear Mr. Washington is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 760L across 32 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Dear Mr. Washington works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate Dear Mr. Washington as 9C ("Clear") because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.

No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.

Thematically, Dear Mr. Washington explores behavior, etiquette, letters, brothers and sisters, and family — 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 behavior, etiquette, letters.

Maybe not for

! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.