Double fake

Name: Double fake
Author: Rich Wallace
ISBN: 0670060054

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Rich Wallace

Reading Level 4-5 LE · Mild · Emotional Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

A Junior Library Guild selection

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

Have you ever felt like everyone was talking about you behind your back? Emma is starting to like her new school, but then her friend Cynthia begins spreading rumors that make Emma feel like an outsider. How will Emma handle this tricky situation?

Themes

Friendship Sports Coming of Age

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade fiction book explores themes of friendship and social challenges as Emma navigates the difficulties of fitting in at a new school. Suitable for ages 9-12, it addresses issues of peer relationships and self-confidence in a relatable way without intense content.

Why we rated Double fake LE (Mild)

Double fake is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 119 pages. Reading-wise, most kids in grade 6 and up can manage Double fake on their own; younger readers can enjoy it with a parent or teacher reading along.

We rate Double fake 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 fake explores friendship, sports, and coming of age — 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 friendship, sports, coming of age.
✓ Readers (and parents) who care about award-recognized writing — Double fake carries an award.

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

Mild

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: standard

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