Nothing but trouble

Name: Nothing but trouble
Author: Jacqueline Davies
ISBN: 9780062369888

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Jacqueline Davies

Reading Level 4-5 C · Gentle Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

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. Its HootRating code, C, means gentle content.

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About This Book

Maggie’s small town is about to get a big shake-up thanks to two girls with a knack for trouble! When Lena moves in, their pranks—like purple smoke bombs and parachuting mice—turn boring middle school days upside down. But why is their new principal so mad, and what secret passageways are hiding just beneath the surface?

Themes

Humor FriendshipMiddle SchoolPractical JokesSmall Town Life

Quick Assessment

Nothing but Trouble is a humorous middle-grade novel about friendship, creativity, and the excitement of shaking up a small town. Suitable for ages 9-12, it features practical jokes and school adventures that encourage teamwork and imagination without any inappropriate content. The story’s lighthearted tone and positive messages make it a fun, age-appropriate read for middle schoolers.

Why we rated Nothing but trouble C (Gentle)

Nothing but trouble is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 314 pages. Reading-wise, most kids in grade 6 and up can manage Nothing but trouble on their own; younger readers can enjoy it with a parent or teacher reading along.

We rate Nothing but trouble as C (Gentle) 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, Nothing but trouble explores humor, friendship, middle school, practical jokes, and small town life — 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, friendship, middle school.

Maybe not for

! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.

For Parents

Content Intensity

C · Gentle

Emotional

Gentle

Physical

Gentle

Social

Gentle

Thematic

Gentle

Reading 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

No conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.

Data confidence: high

Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?