Penrod (Large Print Edition)
Booth Tarkington
Penrod (Large Print Edition)
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Large Print
by Booth Tarkington
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
I have a secret about Penrod Schofield—he’s not just any eleven-year-old boy. His wild ideas and hilarious mishaps in a small Midwestern town will surprise you, but that’s only the beginning.
Quick Assessment
Penrod is a classic collection of humorous stories featuring an imaginative 11-year-old boy navigating childhood in early 20th-century America. Suitable for ages 9-12, it offers lighthearted adventures with some old-fashioned language and cultural references from the pre-World War I era. Parents should note the historical context but can expect gentle, entertaining mischief rather than serious conflict.
Why we rated Penrod (Large Print Edition) 11C
Penrod (Large Print Edition) is written at a Level 6 reading level across 216 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Penrod (Large Print Edition) works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Penrod (Large Print Edition) 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, Penrod (Large Print Edition) explores humor, coming of age, family, adventure, and historical — 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, coming of age, family.
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
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781426482878
- Pages
- 216
- Publisher
- BiblioBazaar
- Published
- March 13, 2007
- Type
- Fiction