Faking It
Jennifer Crusie
Faking It
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Jennifer Crusie
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 mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
What happens when two very different kids team up to outsmart a tricky treasure hunter? Tilda and Davy find themselves in a wild chase, facing a clever rival and a silly art collector. But can they handle the surprise of real friendship—or maybe something even bigger?
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows Tilda and Davy as they navigate challenges involving a cunning antagonist and an art collector, blending adventure with humor. Suitable for ages 9-12, it features themes of friendship and unexpected alliances, with light romantic undertones. The story is engaging and appropriate for middle-grade readers looking for a fun, character-driven adventure.
Why we rated Faking It 12LE
Faking It is written at a Level 8 reading level across 452 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 "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, Faking It explores friendship, adventure, humor, 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, adventure, humor.
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.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A 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
- 9780754098898
- Pages
- 452
- Publisher
- Macmillan
- Published
- December 2004
- Type
- Fiction