Pick your poison

Name: Pick your poison
Author: Lauren Child
ISBN: 9780763654719

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Lauren Child

Illustrated by Mackintosh, David , illustrator

Reading Level 5-6 10LE Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

The text is written at a 5th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.

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About This Book

The faint click of a secret lock echoes in the quiet hallway, mixing with the scent of old books and fresh paper. Suddenly, a mysterious message slips through the cracks, pulling you into a world where every choice could change everything. What secrets will you uncover when you pick your poison?

Themes

SchoolsSpy storiesJuvenile fictionAdventure Friendship

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel follows a young protagonist navigating school life with a thrilling spy twist. It combines elements of mystery and adventure appropriate for children aged 9-12, engaging readers with suspense while avoiding intense violence or mature themes. Parents can expect a fun and imaginative story that encourages critical thinking and problem-solving.

Why we rated Pick your poison 10LE

Pick your poison is written at a Level 5-6 reading level with a Lexile measure of 800L across 525 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 6.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Pick your poison works for readers up to grade 7.5.

We rate Pick your poison as 10LE ("Light — Emotional") 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.

No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.

Thematically, Pick your poison explores schools, spy stories, juvenile fiction, 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 schools, spy stories, juvenile fiction.