Footer Davis probably is crazy

Name: Footer Davis probably is crazy
Author: Susan Vaught
ISBN: 9781481422765

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Susan Vaught

Reading Level 5-6 ME · Moderate · Emotional Ages 9-12 Matched

The text is written at a 5th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes. Its HootRating code, ME, means moderate content, mostly emotional.

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About This Book

Footer Davis races through the blazing house, smoke swirling around her. Sirens wail in the distance, but she’s not stopping—someone is still inside. Can Footer find the missing child before it’s too late?

Themes

FamiliesMissing ChildrenArsonFamily LifeJuvenile Fiction

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel follows Footer Davis, a girl who faces the challenges of a family tragedy involving arson and a missing child. It explores themes of family dynamics, resilience, and courage. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story contains moderate tension related to fire and disappearance but is handled thoughtfully.

Why we rated Footer Davis probably is crazy ME (Moderate)

Footer Davis probably is crazy is written at a Level 5-6 reading level across 229 pages. Reading-wise, most kids in grade 7 and up can manage Footer Davis probably is crazy on their own; younger readers can enjoy it with a parent or teacher reading along.

We rate Footer Davis probably is crazy as ME (Moderate, mostly emotional) because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, physical peril — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Fire, Missing Children.

Thematically, Footer Davis probably is crazy explores families, missing children, arson, family life, and juvenile fiction — 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 families, missing children, arson.

Maybe not for

! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.

For Parents

Content Intensity

ME · Moderate · Emotional

Emotional

Moderate ←

Physical

Moderate

Social

Mild

Thematic

Mild

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

Real stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.