Put a lid on it
Donald E. Westlake
Put a lid on it
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Donald E. Westlake
The text is written at a 5th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
Meehan, a skilled thief facing serious legal trouble, is given a daring chance to clear his name. He's tasked with breaking into a high-stakes political campaign to steal a secret tape that could change everything. As the pressure mounts, Meehan must decide how far he’s willing to go for freedom.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 5-6 book with moderate content intensity. Content themes include physical danger, realistic violence, crime. Written for readers ages 13+.
Why we rated Put a lid on it 10MP
Put a lid on it is written at a Level 5-6 reading level across 247 pages (approximately 60,756 words). Strong independent readers around grade 6.8 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Put a lid on it works for readers up to grade 7.8.
Read aloud, Put a lid on it runs about 6.8 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.
We rate Put a lid on it as 10MP ("Moderate — Physical") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from physical peril — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Physical Danger, Realistic Violence, Crime.
Thematically, Put a lid on it explores political campaign, crime, thriller, and morality — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about political campaign, crime, thriller.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
10MP — Moderate — PhysicalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Content Flags
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0892967188
- Pages
- 247
- Publisher
- Grand Central Pub
- Published
- 2002
- Type
- Fiction
- Word Count
- 60,756
- Read-Aloud
- ~6h 45m
- Text Density
- Standard