I'm an alien and I want to go home
Jo Franklin
I'm an alien and I want to go home
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Jo Franklin
Illustrated by Kelley, Marty, illustrator
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
Daniel isn’t just tall—he’s convinced he’s an alien stuck on Earth! With only two friends by his side, he sets off on a wild mission to find his real home planet, but things quickly spiral into hilarious chaos. It turns out being different might be the best adventure of all.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction follows Daniel, a boy who feels out of place and believes he’s an alien trying to return home. The story humorously explores themes of friendship, identity, and honesty, making it relatable for kids aged 9-12. The lighthearted tone and gentle handling of feeling different make it an appropriate and engaging read for this age group.
Why we rated I'm an alien and I want to go home 9LE
I'm an alien and I want to go home is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 183 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, I'm an alien and I want to go home works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate I'm an alien and I want to go home 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, I'm an alien and I want to go home explores friendship, humor, identity & self-discovery, and aliens — 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 friendship, humor, identity & self-discovery.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
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
2/10A 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
- 9780544442955
- Pages
- 183
- Publisher
- Clarion Books
- Published
- 2015
- Type
- Fiction