Hunchdog of Notre Dame
Michael Jan Friedman
Hunchdog of Notre Dame
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Michael Jan Friedman
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 mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
Wishbone isn’t just any dog—he’s a hero with a hunchback, just like Quasimodo! When the roller hockey game turns rough, he imagines himself saving the day in the grand Notre-Dame Cathedral. It’s more than a game; it’s a story about courage and standing tall, no matter what.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction blends a modern roller hockey story with classic themes from Notre-Dame de Paris, exploring courage, acceptance, and disability through Wishbone, a dog who imagines himself as Quasimodo. Suitable for ages 9-12, it sensitively handles themes of social awkwardness and inclusion without explicit content. The story encourages empathy and understanding in an engaging, age-appropriate way.
Why we rated Hunchdog of Notre Dame 9LE
Hunchdog of Notre Dame is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 139 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Hunchdog of Notre Dame works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Hunchdog of Notre Dame as 9LE ("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, Hunchdog of Notre Dame explores family, friendship, people with disabilities, sports, 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about family, friendship, people with disabilities.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LE — 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
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780590664790
- Pages
- 139
- Publisher
- Scholastic.
- Published
- 1998
- Type
- Fiction