Money hungry
Sharon G. Flake
Money hungry
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Sharon G. Flake
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
The sharp scent of money fills Raspberry's nose as she counts every dollar she can grab. She scrubs, sells, and hustles, chasing the feel of green bills in her hands. But when her world starts to shake, will she find a way to hold on tight?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Money Hungry follows thirteen-year-old Raspberry Hill as she navigates poverty and homelessness in an urban setting. Focused on financial survival, Raspberry's story touches on family struggles, housing insecurity, and community challenges. Suitable for middle-grade readers, it provides insight into social issues faced by single-parent African American families without graphic content.
Why we rated Money hungry 9ME
Money hungry is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 188 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Money hungry works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Money hungry as 9ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, social complexity — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.
Thematically, Money hungry explores inner cities, mothers and daughters, money, african americans, and single-parent families — 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 inner cities, mothers and daughters, money.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780786815036
- Pages
- 188
- Publisher
- Jump At The Sun
- Published
- 2003
- Type
- Fiction