What reading level is Maggot Pie?

Maggot Pie by Michael Lawrence is at a Level 6 reading level. Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Maggot Pie appropriate for?

Maggot Pie is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 11C (Clear). Content flags: Mild Peril, Fantasy Violence.

What genre is Maggot Pie?

Maggot Pie is fiction — Children's stories.

Does Maggot Pie have any content warnings?

Maggot Pie has a HootRating of 11C (Clear). Content flags include: Mild Peril, Fantasy Violence. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Maggot Pie?

Maggot Pie by Michael Lawrence is 299 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

Maggot Pie

Michael Lawrence

Maggot Pie

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Michael Lawrence

Illustrated by Ellis Nadler

Reading Level 6 11C Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

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 gentle with no concerning themes.

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About This Book

What would you do if the unluckiest kid in town suddenly got a genie—for better or worse? Jiggy McCue hopes for some good luck, but instead, a tricky teenage genie turns his world upside down. Now, with maggoty dreams creeping in, will Jiggy's bad luck ever change or is trouble just getting started?

Themes

Humor AdventureFantasyFriendship

Quick Assessment

Maggot Pie is a middle-grade fiction book featuring Jiggy McCue, a boy known for his bad luck who encounters a mischievous teenage genie. The story blends humor with elements of fantasy and mild mischief, appropriate for readers aged 9 to 12. Parents should note the presence of supernatural themes and some mischievous behavior, but overall, the book offers lighthearted adventure and comedy.

Why we rated Maggot Pie 11C

Maggot Pie is written at a Level 6 reading level across 299 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Maggot Pie works for readers up to grade 8.0.

We rate Maggot Pie as 11C ("Clear") because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mild Peril, Fantasy Violence.

Thematically, Maggot Pie explores humor, adventure, fantasy, 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.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about humor, adventure, fantasy.

Maybe not for

! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.
! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.