Rick
Alex Gino
Rick
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Alex Gino
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.
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About This Book
The sharp scent of fresh crayons and the noisy chatter of the Rainbow Spectrum club fill the air. Rick feels a mix of nervous excitement and curiosity as he steps into this new world where he can start to understand himself better. It's a place where secrets begin to unfold and where finding your true self feels like the biggest adventure yet.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Rick is a middle-grade novel that explores themes of identity, friendship, and self-discovery in a school setting. It gently addresses the challenges of growing up, including peer pressure and understanding one's own feelings, making it suitable for readers ages 9-12. Parents should note that the story includes discussions about gender identity and supportive friendships.
Why we rated Rick 11ME
Rick is written at a Level 6 reading level across 240 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Rick works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Rick as 11ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. The strongest signals come from emotional weight — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, Rick explores coming of age, friendship, family, school & education, and lgbtq+ representation — 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 coming of age, friendship, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11ME — Moderate — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A 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
- 9780702301827
- Pages
- 240
- Publisher
- Scholastic
- Published
- 2020
- Type
- Fiction