Roxie and the Hooligans at Buzzard's Roost
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Roxie and the Hooligans at Buzzard's Roost
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Illustrated by Boiger, Alexandra, illustrator
The text is written at a 4th 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
What if your beach vacation turned into a wild adventure with a secret invention and a kidnapper who’s just as clumsy as you? Imagine trying to find a missing friend while outsmarting a sneaky enemy and keeping your cool with a bunch of noisy, messy hooligans around. Can Roxie save the day before things spiral even further out of control?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction follows Roxie and her friends, the Hooligans, as they embark on a beach vacation that quickly turns into an adventurous mystery involving a secret invention and a clumsy kidnapper. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story combines humor, friendship, and problem-solving in an engaging way. Parents should know it includes light peril and themes of teamwork and cleverness, but no intense content.
Why we rated Roxie and the Hooligans at Buzzard's Roost 9LE
Roxie and the Hooligans at Buzzard's Roost is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 188 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Roxie and the Hooligans at Buzzard's Roost works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Roxie and the Hooligans at Buzzard's Roost as 9LE ("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, Roxie and the Hooligans at Buzzard's Roost explores adventure, friendship, behavior, inventions, and beaches — 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 adventure, friendship, behavior.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781481437820
- Pages
- 188
- Publisher
- Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction