Mr. 60%
Clete Barrett Smith
Mr. 60%
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Clete Barrett Smith
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
What would you do if your family needed help, but the only way you knew was risky and wrong? Matt sells drugs to support his sick uncle, barely caring about school. Then Amanda, a bright and cheerful outcast, shows up to change everything—but will Matt let her?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel explores the challenges faced by Matt, a high school student who turns to selling drugs to support his uncle battling cancer. It addresses themes of drug use, family hardship, and friendship, suitable for readers aged 9-12 with parental guidance due to the mature subject matter. The story also highlights the impact of positive social connections in difficult circumstances.
Why we rated Mr. 60% 9ME
Mr. 60% is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 184 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Mr. 60% works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Mr. 60% 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.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Substance Use.
Thematically, Mr. 60% explores juvenile fiction, interpersonal relations, friendship, and family — 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 juvenile fiction, interpersonal relations, friendship.
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.
Content Flags
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
- 9780553534665
- Pages
- 184
- Publisher
- Crown Books For Young Readers
- Published
- 2017
- Type
- Fiction