Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated
Not so normal Norbert
James Patterson
The text is written at a 3rd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material. Its HootRating code, LS, means mild content, mostly social.
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About This Book
What if being normal meant following every single boring rule? Imagine living in a world where creativity is forbidden and making people laugh gets you in big trouble! When Norbert accidentally jokes about the ruler, he’s sent far away to a wild camp where kids are free to be different—could this be the place he truly belongs?
Quick Assessment
After a joke about the dictator gets him arrested, a boy is banished to a faraway planet where wild, rule-breaking kids live at a camp called Astronuts. The story is a silly, humorous science fiction adventure about conformity, creativity, and learning that being different can be a good thing. Its satire of an oppressive government is light and playful, with mild peril and no notable mature content, making it a comfortable pick for independent middle-grade readers.
Why we rated Not so normal Norbert LS (Mild)
Not so normal Norbert is written at a Level 3 reading level across 368 pages. Reading-wise, most kids in grade 4 and up can manage Not so normal Norbert on their own; younger readers can enjoy it with a parent or teacher reading along.
We rate Not so normal Norbert as LS (Mild, mostly social) because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. The strongest signals come from 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 mild intensity score.
Thematically, Not so normal Norbert explores humor, adventure, science & nature, social justice, 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about humor, adventure, science & nature.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
LS · Mild · SocialReading the HootRating code: the first letter is the content intensity (C = Gentle · L = Mild · M = Moderate · I = Intense · V = Very Intense); the second, when there is one, is the kind of content that drives it (E = Emotional · P = Physical · S = Social · T = Thematic). Reading level and age range are rated separately. How we rate
Light conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Discussion Potential
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780316465410
- Pages
- 368
- Publisher
- jimmy patterson
- Published
- 2018-07
- Type
- Fiction