Faking it
Gerald Green
Faking it
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Or, The Wrong Hungarian
by Gerald Green
The text is written at a 8th 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 if the biggest trick you ever pulled taught you the greatest lesson about yourself? In this story, a clever kid fakes their way through challenges, but soon learns that being true is the real adventure. It’s a tale that shows why honesty isn’t just the best policy — it’s the key to who you really are.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Faking It by Gerald Green is a middle-grade fiction novel suitable for ages 9-12, focusing on themes of honesty and self-discovery. The story follows a young protagonist who navigates challenges through deception but ultimately learns important lessons about authenticity and integrity. The book is appropriate for middle-grade readers and encourages reflection on personal values without intense content.
Why we rated Faking it 12LE
Faking it is written at a Level 8 reading level across 411 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 9.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Faking it works for readers up to grade 10.0.
We rate Faking it as 12LE ("Light — Emotional") 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, Faking it explores coming of age, family, friendship, honesty, and self-discovery — 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 coming of age, family, friendship.
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.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12LE — Light — EmotionalNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0671270737
- Pages
- 411
- Publisher
- Trident Press
- Published
- 1971
- Type
- Fiction