How to sell your family to the aliens
Paul Noth
How to sell your family to the aliens
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Paul Noth
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.
We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.
About This Book
Happy Conklin Jr. is the only 10-year-old who shaves three times a day—and that’s just the start of his crazy life! With a dad inventing wild gadgets and a grandma ruling the mansion, Hap's family is anything but normal. When Hap accidentally sells his entire family to aliens, the challenge to get them back will take all his wits—and then some!
Quick Assessment
This humorous middle-grade novel follows 10-year-old Happy Conklin Jr., whose eccentric family life is turned upside down when he accidentally sells them to aliens. The story features quirky characters and inventive scenarios that explore themes of family dynamics and individuality. Suitable for ages 9-12, it offers lighthearted comedy with some mild peril and imaginative adventure.
Why we rated How to sell your family to the aliens 11LE
How to sell your family to the aliens is written at a Level 6 reading level across 212 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, How to sell your family to the aliens works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate How to sell your family to the aliens 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, How to sell your family to the aliens explores humor, family, ability, extraterrestrial beings, and inventors — 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 humor, family, ability.
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
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
How to Win the Science Fair When You're Dead
Paul Noth
How to Win the Science Fair When You're Dead
Paul Noth
My Life Among the Aliens
Gail Gauthier
My Life Among the Aliens
Gail Gauthier
You can't have my planet but take my brother, please
James Mihaley
You can't have my planet but take my brother, please
James Mihaley
Aliens for dinner?!
A. I. Newton
Aliens for dinner?!
A. I. Newton
My life among the aliens
Gail Gauthier
My life among the aliens
Gail Gauthier
Aliens in the Family
Margaret Mahy
Aliens in the Family
Margaret Mahy
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781681196572
- Pages
- 212
- Publisher
- Bloomsbury Publishing
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction