Princess and the Poison Pea

Name: Princess and the Poison Pea
Author: Wiley Blevins
ISBN: 9781634401661

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Wiley Blevins

Scary Tales Retold

Reading Level 3 LE · Mild · Emotional Ages 5-8 Matched Page-Turner

The text is written at a 3rd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for younger children (ages 5–8), 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

A brave princess faces a wicked queen's dark magic as she tries to win the prince's heart. Danger and mystery bloom around a strange, poisonous pea that could change their fate forever. Will courage and kindness be enough to create a happily ever after?

Themes

PrincessesAdventure Fantasy World-Building Friendship

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 3 book with mild content intensity. Content themes include mild peril, fantasy violence, fear & anxiety. Written for readers ages 5-8.

Why we rated Princess and the Poison Pea LE (Mild)

Princess and the Poison Pea is written at a Level 3 reading level across 24 pages (approximately 622 words). Reading-wise, most kids in grade 4 and up can manage Princess and the Poison Pea on their own; younger readers can enjoy it with a parent or teacher reading along.

Read aloud, Princess and the Poison Pea takes about 4 minutes, which fits within a single read-aloud session.

We rate Princess and the Poison Pea 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.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mild Peril, Fantasy Violence, Fear & Anxiety.

Thematically, Princess and the Poison Pea explores princesses, adventure, fantasy world-building, and friendship — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.

Good fit for

✓ Children in the Ages 5-8 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 princesses, adventure, fantasy world-building.
✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there are 2 more books in the Scary Tales Retold series.

Maybe not for

! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.

For Parents

Content Intensity

LE · Mild · Emotional

Emotional

Mild ←

Physical

Mild

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

Light conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.