Infamous
Justin D'Ath
Infamous
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Justin D'Ath
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
Tasmanian Tigers are thought to be gone forever, but what if they're still out there? Tim isn’t just dreaming—he’s painting stripes on his dog to fool people and bring life back to his sleepy town. But when the real secret comes out, Tim’s wild plan turns into a race to protect the last thylacines.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction explores themes of wildlife conservation and adventure as Tim tries to revive his town with a clever ruse involving his dog and the legendary thylacine. Suitable for ages 9-12, it offers an engaging story with light suspense and an emphasis on caring for endangered species. Parents should note the story includes mild tension but no graphic content.
Why we rated Infamous 9LE
Infamous is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 109 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Infamous works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Infamous 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, Infamous explores adventure, science & nature, friendship, and conservation — 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 adventure, science & nature, friendship.
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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Based on content and theme analysis
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781741141283
- Pages
- 109
- Publisher
- Allen & Unwin Australia
- Published
- 2003
- Type
- Fiction