Going wild
Lisa McMann
Going wild
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Lisa McMann
Illustrated by Dorman, Brandon, illustrator
The text is written at a 7th 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 if moving to a new town was just the start of your adventure? Imagine finding a magical bracelet that gives you the speed of a cheetah and the strength of an elephant. But can Charlie control these wild powers before things get out of hand?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Going Wild follows Charlie Wilde, a middle-grade girl who discovers a mysterious bracelet that grants her extraordinary animal abilities after moving from Chicago to Arizona. The story blends science fiction with themes of family, friendship, and self-discovery, making it suitable for readers ages 9-12. Parents should know it contains action-packed scenes and explores the challenges of adapting to new environments and responsibilities.
Why we rated Going wild 12LE
Going wild is written at a Level 7 reading level across 375 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Going wild works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Going wild 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, Going wild explores family, friendship, adventure, science & nature, and superheroes — 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 family, friendship, 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
12LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780062337146
- Pages
- 375
- Publisher
- HarperCollins
- Published
- 2016
- Type
- Fiction