Mr Gum and the Cherry Tree
Andy Stanton
Mr Gum and the Cherry Tree
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Andy Stanton
The text is written at a 4th 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 if a cherry tree wasn’t just any tree, but a giant, mysterious landmark hiding secrets in its thick, green leaves? Imagine forests filled with legendary beasts and dreadful villains lurking nearby, while a brave girl named Polly sets out to uncover the truth. But what if discovering those secrets leads to even bigger surprises?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This humorous middle-grade fantasy follows Polly as she explores a magical cherry tree rumored to hold mysterious secrets. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story blends adventure and comedy with imaginative creatures and light suspense. Parents can expect a fun, engaging read with no intense content, perfect for children developing their independent reading skills.
Why we rated Mr Gum and the Cherry Tree 9C
Mr Gum and the Cherry Tree is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 134 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Mr Gum and the Cherry Tree works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Mr Gum and the Cherry Tree as 9C ("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.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.
Thematically, Mr Gum and the Cherry Tree explores humor, fantasy world-building, adventure, and children's fiction — 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, fantasy world-building, adventure.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9C — ClearNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A 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
- 9781405259330
- Pages
- 134
- Publisher
- Galaxy
- Published
- 2011
- Type
- Fiction