Double dog dare

Name: Double dog dare
Author: Lisa Graff
ISBN: 9780399255168

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Lisa Graff

Reading Level 4-5 LE · Mild · Emotional 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 mild with minimal sensitive material. Its HootRating code, LE, means mild content, mostly emotional.

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About This Book

The buzz of the classroom fills the air as Kansas Bloom steps into his new school in California, the scent of fresh paint and lunchroom chatter swirling around him. Suddenly, a challenge echoes through the halls—a dare war has begun, and Kansas is right in the middle of it. With each bold move, the stakes climb higher, and the chance to be the on-air video homeroom announcer hangs in the balance.

Themes

FamilySchoolsFriendshipCompetitionHousehold MovingDivorce

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade fiction follows Kansas Bloom as he navigates the challenges of moving to a new state and adjusting to a new school environment. The story explores themes of friendship, competition, and family change, including divorce, making it suitable for readers aged 9 to 12. Parents should note the book handles these topics with sensitivity and humor, making it an engaging read for children experiencing similar transitions.

Why we rated Double dog dare LE (Mild)

Double dog dare is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 290 pages. Reading-wise, most kids in grade 6 and up can manage Double dog dare on their own; younger readers can enjoy it with a parent or teacher reading along.

We rate Double dog dare as LE (Mild, mostly 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, Double dog dare explores family, schools, friendship, competition, and household moving — 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 family, schools, friendship.

Maybe not for

! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.

For Parents

Content Intensity

LE · Mild · Emotional

Emotional

Mild ←

Physical

Gentle

Social

Gentle

Thematic

Gentle

Reading the HootRating code: the first letter is the content intensity (C = Gentle · L = Mild · M = Moderate · I = Intense · V = Very Intense); the second, when there is one, is the kind of content that drives it (E = Emotional · P = Physical · S = Social · T = Thematic). Reading level and age range are rated separately. How we rate

Light conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.

Data confidence: high

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