No such thing as a witch
Ruth Chew
No such thing as a witch
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Ruth Chew
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
Have you ever wondered if magic could be hiding in something as sweet as fudge? Nora and Ted discover that Maggie Brown's delicious treats hold a secret power—one piece makes you love animals, but two pieces let you understand their every word. What will happen when they taste the magic twice?
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction book follows Nora and Ted as they uncover the magical effects of Maggie Brown's special fudge, which enhances their connection with animals. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story explores themes of curiosity and wonder with light fantasy elements. The content is gentle and appropriate for middle-grade readers, with no notable concerns.
Why we rated No such thing as a witch 9C
No such thing as a witch is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 112 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, No such thing as a witch works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate No such thing as a witch 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, No such thing as a witch explores fantasy world-building, adventure, and friendship — 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 fantasy world-building, adventure, friendship.
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.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
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
2/10A 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
- 9780590440530
- Pages
- 112
- Publisher
- Scholastic Paperbacks
- Published
- 1990
- Type
- Fiction