Max Quigley
Roy, James
Max Quigley
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Technically Not a Bully
by Roy, James
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 sharp click of pencil tips and the faint smell of old textbooks fill the quiet classroom. Max Quigley never imagined that his punishment for a prank would mean spending afternoons with the very 'geeky' kid he teased. As the days pass, something unexpected begins to change beneath the surface.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Max Quigley is a middle-grade novel about a sixth grader who, after playing a prank on a classmate, must be tutored by him as punishment. The story explores themes of friendship, bullying, and personal growth, making it suitable for children aged 9-12. Parents should note the book handles social dynamics and peer relationships in a thoughtful, age-appropriate manner.
Why we rated Max Quigley 11LE
Max Quigley is written at a Level 6 reading level across 202 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Max Quigley works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Max Quigley 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, Max Quigley explores friendship, bullying, and tutors and tutoring — 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, bullying, tutors and tutoring.
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
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
- 9780547152639
- Pages
- 202
- Publisher
- Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
- Published
- 2009
- Type
- Fiction