I am Fartacus
Mark Maciejewski
I am Fartacus
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Mark Maciejewski
The text is written at a 7th 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 if a group of middle school misfits decided to take down the school’s biggest bully? Imagine leading a secret mission to topple the evil empire of Arch, only to accidentally become a hero. Can Chub and his friends survive the chaos they've unleashed?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows Chub and his group of misfit friends as they navigate the challenges of middle school while plotting to defeat a school bully named Arch. The story explores themes of friendship, standing up to bullies, and self-discovery with humor and relatable characters. Appropriate for ages 9-12, it contains practical jokes and mild conflict typical of juvenile fiction.
Why we rated I am Fartacus 12LE
I am Fartacus is written at a Level 7 reading level across 325 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, I am Fartacus works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate I am Fartacus as 12LE ("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, I am Fartacus explores outcasts, middle school students, antiheroes, practical jokes, and friendship — 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 outcasts, middle school students, antiheroes.
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
12LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A 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
- 9781481464192
- Pages
- 325
- Publisher
- Simon and Schuster
- Published
- 2017
- Type
- Fiction