What reading level is Friends and Foes?

Friends and Foes by Eddie Pittman is at a Level 4-5 reading level. Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Friends and Foes appropriate for?

Friends and Foes is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9LP (Light — Physical). Content flags: Mild Peril.

What genre is Friends and Foes?

Friends and Foes is nonfiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does Friends and Foes have any content warnings?

Friends and Foes has a HootRating of 9LP (Light — Physical). Content flags include: Mild Peril. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Friends and Foes?

Friends and Foes by Eddie Pittman is 192 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

Friends and Foes

Eddie Pittman

Friends and Foes

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

Book 2: Friends and Foes

by Eddie Pittman

Reading Level 4-5 9LP Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

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.

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About This Book

The sharp tang of alien dust fills the air as the red-haired girl races through the strange, whispering forest of her new home. Around her, creatures with curious eyes and secret smiles gather, united by a bond forged in the shadows of danger. When ruthless Uskog space pirates return, the courage of these unlikely friends will be tested like never before.

Themes

Friendship Survival Adventure Science & Nature Fantasy World-Building

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel follows a ten-year-old orphan who crash-lands on a distant planet and forms friendships with unique alien companions. Together, they face the threat of space pirates seeking a stolen treasure, blending themes of survival and camaraderie. Suitable for ages 9-12, it offers engaging adventure with mild peril but no graphic content.

Why we rated Friends and Foes 9LP

Friends and Foes is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 192 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Friends and Foes works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate Friends and Foes as 9LP ("Light — Physical") 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.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mild Peril.

Thematically, Friends and Foes explores friendship, survival, adventure, science & nature, and fantasy world-building — 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, survival, adventure.
✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.