Follow Your Dreams!
Susan Hale
Follow Your Dreams!
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Susan Hale
The text is written at a 5th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.
We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.
About This Book
Here's a secret: Pickles the Pig has a dream bigger than any barnyard can hold. She wants to sing her heart out and win the biggest talent show ever—but that’s only the beginning.
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction book tells the story of Pickles the Pig, who pursues her passion for singing and competes in a local talent show before heading to a national competition. Suitable for ages 9-12, it encourages themes of perseverance, self-confidence, and following one’s dreams in a lighthearted and positive way.
Why we rated Follow Your Dreams! 10C
Follow Your Dreams! is written at a Level 5 reading level. Strong independent readers around grade 6.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Follow Your Dreams! works for readers up to grade 7.0.
We rate Follow Your Dreams! as 10C ("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, Follow Your Dreams! explores friendship, coming of age, and adventure — 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 friendship, coming of age, adventure.
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
10C — ClearNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
Dream Big Little Pig
Kristi Yamaguchi
Dream Big Little Pig
Kristi Yamaguchi
Pigs Have Wings
Kathleen Welton
Pigs Have Wings
Kathleen Welton
Dream Big!
Sally Huss
Dream Big!
Sally Huss
Finding your dream
Darla Zuhdi
Finding your dream
Darla Zuhdi
Pickles To Pittsburg
Judi Barrett
Pickles To Pittsburg
Judi Barrett
When Pigs Fly
Valerie Coulman
When Pigs Fly
Valerie Coulman
Details
- ISBN
- 9780967806204
- Publisher
- Hale, Susan
- Published
- 1998
- Type
- Fiction