Pigs might fly

Name: Pigs might fly
Author: Nick Abadzis
ISBN: 9781626720862

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Nick Abadzis

Illustrated by Jerel Dye

Reading Level 6 LE · Mild · Emotional Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

A Junior Library Guild selection

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 mild with minimal sensitive material. Its HootRating code, LE, means mild content, mostly emotional.

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About This Book

No one in Pigdom Plains believes pigs can really fly—except Lily Leanchops. She's determined to build a flying machine that works, using science and a little secret magic. But when the Warthogs arrive with their own magical aircraft, Lily has to take to the skies for real, and there’s no room for mistakes.

Themes

Adventure Fantasy World-BuildingInventorsMagicFriendship

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade fiction follows Lily Leanchops, a young inventor pig determined to succeed where her father failed by building a working flying machine. Blending themes of science, magic, and adventure, the story introduces children ages 9-12 to ideas about perseverance and innovation while featuring light fantasy elements. Parents should note the presence of mild peril and magical conflicts in a whimsical setting.

Why we rated Pigs might fly LE (Mild)

Pigs might fly is written at a Level 6 reading level across 203 pages. Reading-wise, most kids in grade 7 and up can manage Pigs might fly on their own; younger readers can enjoy it with a parent or teacher reading along.

We rate Pigs might fly as LE (Mild, mostly 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, Pigs might fly explores adventure, fantasy world-building, inventors, magic, 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 adventure, fantasy world-building, inventors.
✓ Readers (and parents) who care about award-recognized writing — Pigs might fly carries an award.

Maybe not for

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

For Parents

Content Intensity

LE · Mild · Emotional

Emotional

Mild ←

Physical

Mild

Social

Gentle

Thematic

Mild

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

Light conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.

Data confidence: standard

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