My life as a ninja
Janet Tashjian
My life as a ninja
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Janet Tashjian
Illustrated by Tashjian, Jake, 1994- illustrator
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
Have you ever wondered what it takes to become a ninja? Derek Fallon is about to find out as he dives into secret training, juggling school and family life along the way. But can he keep his ninja skills hidden from everyone around him?
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows Derek Fallon as he embarks on a ninja training adventure while navigating the challenges of middle school and family dynamics. Suitable for ages 9-12, it blends humor and relatable situations without intense content, making it a light and engaging read for young readers.
Why we rated My life as a ninja 11C
My life as a ninja is written at a Level 6 reading level across 218 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, My life as a ninja works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate My life as a ninja 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.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.
Thematically, My life as a ninja explores family, middle school, humor, adventure, and juvenile 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 family, middle school, humor.
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
11C — 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
- 9781627798891
- Pages
- 218
- Publisher
- Henry Holt Books For Young Readers
- Published
- 2017
- Type
- Fiction