What reading level is Outlaws (Bad Guys)?

Outlaws (Bad Guys) by Gary L. Blackwood is at a Level 7-8 reading level. Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Outlaws (Bad Guys) appropriate for?

Outlaws (Bad Guys) is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 12LP (Light — Physical). Content flags: Mild Peril, Realistic Violence.

What genre is Outlaws (Bad Guys)?

Outlaws (Bad Guys) is nonfiction — Juvenile Nonfiction. Part of the Bad Guys (Marshall Cavendish Corp.) series.

Does Outlaws (Bad Guys) have any content warnings?

Outlaws (Bad Guys) has a HootRating of 12LP (Light — Physical). Content flags include: Mild Peril, Realistic Violence. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Outlaws (Bad Guys)?

Outlaws (Bad Guys) by Gary L. Blackwood is 72 pages (approximately 10,649 words).

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

Outlaws (Bad Guys)

Gary L. Blackwood

Outlaws (Bad Guys)

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Gary L. Blackwood

Bad Guys (Marshall Cavendish Corp.)

Reading Level 7-8 12LP Ages 9-12 Balanced Read Page-Turner

The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.

Buy on Amazon Listen on Audible Find on Bookshop.org

We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.

About This Book

Explore the thrilling tales of Wild West outlaws like Jesse James, John Wesley Hardin, and Pearl Hart as their daring adventures and bold crimes come to life. Discover what made these infamous figures both feared and fascinating in the Old West.

Themes

Historical AdventureOutlaws

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 7-8 book with mild content intensity. Content themes include mild peril, realistic violence. Written for readers ages 9-12.

Why we rated Outlaws (Bad Guys) 12LP

Outlaws (Bad Guys) is written at a Level 7-8 reading level across 72 pages (approximately 10,649 words). Strong independent readers around grade 8.7 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Outlaws (Bad Guys) works for readers up to grade 9.7.

Read aloud, Outlaws (Bad Guys) runs about 1.2 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.

We rate Outlaws (Bad Guys) as 12LP ("Light — Physical") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mild Peril, Realistic Violence.

Thematically, Outlaws (Bad Guys) explores historical, adventure, and outlaws — 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.
✓ Reluctant readers who need fast-paced, hook-heavy stories to stay engaged.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about historical, adventure, outlaws.
✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.

Maybe not for

! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.
! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.