Gone fishing
Tamera Will Wissinger
Gone fishing
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
a novel in verse
by Tamera Will Wissinger
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 gentle with no concerning themes.
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About This Book
Here's a secret: Catfish Sam doesn't just love fishing—he lives for the thrill of the catch and the stories that come with it. Every splash and every tug on his line holds a new adventure, but that's only the beginning.
Quick Assessment
Gone Fishing is a middle-grade novel told through engaging poems and comic illustrations, ideal for readers aged 9-12. It follows nine-year-old Catfish Sam as he embarks on a fun and imaginative fishing adventure, exploring themes of family and nature. The book uses accessible language and offers a gentle, uplifting story suitable for this age group.
Why we rated Gone fishing 9C
Gone fishing is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 120 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Gone fishing works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Gone fishing as 9C ("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, Gone fishing explores family, adventure, fishing, juvenile fiction, and novels in verse — 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, adventure, fishing.
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
9C — 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
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780547820118
- Pages
- 120
- Publisher
- Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
- Published
- 2013
- Type
- Fiction