What reading level is Hoaxes, Fibs, and Fakes (The Real Deal)?

Hoaxes, Fibs, and Fakes (The Real Deal) by Lisa Thompson is at a Level 4-5 reading level. Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Hoaxes, Fibs, and Fakes (The Real Deal) appropriate for?

Hoaxes, Fibs, and Fakes (The Real Deal) is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9C (Clear).

What genre is Hoaxes, Fibs, and Fakes (The Real Deal)?

Hoaxes, Fibs, and Fakes (The Real Deal) is nonfiction — Fraud. Part of the Real Deal-Blue; Real Deal series.

Does Hoaxes, Fibs, and Fakes (The Real Deal) have any content warnings?

Hoaxes, Fibs, and Fakes (The Real Deal) has a HootRating of 9C (Clear). No specific content flags noted. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Hoaxes, Fibs, and Fakes (The Real Deal)?

Hoaxes, Fibs, and Fakes (The Real Deal) by Lisa Thompson is 32 pages (approximately 929 words).

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

Hoaxes, Fibs, and Fakes (The Real Deal)

Lisa Thompson

Hoaxes, Fibs, and Fakes (The Real Deal)

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

The real deal, Blue. teacher guide

by Lisa Thompson

Illustrated by Lloyd Foye and Cliff Watt

Real Deal-Blue; Real Deal

Reading Level 4-5 9C Ages 9-12 Balanced Read Page-Turner

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

Discover some of the most clever and surprising tricks people have played throughout history. This fun and fascinating collection reveals the stories behind famous hoaxes and playful deceptions that have left everyone amazed. Perfect for curious minds who love a good laugh and a clever twist!

Themes

HumorHistoryAdventure

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 4-5 book with gentle content intensity. No notable content concerns flagged. Written for readers ages 9-12.

Why we rated Hoaxes, Fibs, and Fakes (The Real Deal) 9C

Hoaxes, Fibs, and Fakes (The Real Deal) is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 32 pages (approximately 929 words). Strong independent readers around grade 5.2 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Hoaxes, Fibs, and Fakes (The Real Deal) works for readers up to grade 6.2.

Read aloud, Hoaxes, Fibs, and Fakes (The Real Deal) takes about 6 minutes, which fits within a single read-aloud session.

We rate Hoaxes, Fibs, and Fakes (The Real Deal) 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, Hoaxes, Fibs, and Fakes (The Real Deal) explores humor, history, and adventure — 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.
✓ Reluctant readers who need fast-paced, hook-heavy stories to stay engaged.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about humor, history, adventure.
✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.

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.