Jackpot
Gordon Korman
Jackpot
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Gordon Korman
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.
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About This Book
The crinkle of a lottery ticket slips through Griffin Bing’s fingers, its shiny surface sparkling under the bright sun. Around him, the buzz of the schoolyard mixes with the sharp taunts of Darren Vader, the local bully on a mission. With a clever invention in hand, Griffin races to outsmart Darren and find the missing thirty million dollar ticket before it’s too late.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Jackpot is a middle-grade fiction book about Griffin Bing and his friends as they search for a lost thirty million dollar lottery ticket while facing challenges from a persistent school bully. The story features themes of friendship, problem-solving, and standing up to bullies, making it suitable for children ages 9 to 12. The book includes mild tension related to bullying but resolves positively.
Why we rated Jackpot 11LE
Jackpot is written at a Level 6 reading level across 200 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Jackpot works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Jackpot 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, Jackpot explores bullying, friendship, inventions, 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.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about bullying, friendship, inventions.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
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
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
- 9780545561464
- Pages
- 200
- Publisher
- Scholastic Press
- Published
- 2014
- Type
- Fiction