Harry the poisonous centipede goes to sea
Lynne Reid Banks
Harry the poisonous centipede goes to sea
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Lynne Reid Banks
The text is written at a 6th 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 happens when two silly centipedes set sail on a wild sea adventure? Harry and George are about to face waves of trouble and hilarious mishaps that could swamp even the bravest bugs. Will their friendship be enough to keep them afloat?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction follows Harry and George, two centipedes, as they embark on a humorous and adventurous sea journey filled with unexpected challenges. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story blends lighthearted animal antics with themes of friendship and courage. Parents should note the story includes mild peril and comedic situations typical of adventure tales.
Why we rated Harry the poisonous centipede goes to sea 11LE
Harry the poisonous centipede goes to sea is written at a Level 6 reading level across 208 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Harry the poisonous centipede goes to sea works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Harry the poisonous centipede goes to sea as 11LE ("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, Harry the poisonous centipede goes to sea explores friendship, adventure, humor, and animals — 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 friendship, adventure, humor.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A 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
- 9780060775483
- Pages
- 208
- Publisher
- HarperCollins
- Published
- 2006
- Type
- Fiction