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Ruby, the red-hot witch at Bloomingdale's

Marlene Fanta Shyer

Cover of Ruby, the red-hot witch at Bloomingdale's

Ruby, the red-hot witch at Bloomingdale's

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Marlene Fanta Shyer

Reading Level 4-5 9LE Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

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

Have you ever wished magic could fix your biggest problems? Ruby, the red-hot witch working at Bloomingdale's, has a special kind of magic that even stops hiccups in their tracks. But can her magic bring Petra's separated parents back together?

Themes

FamilyWitchesSiblingsNew York

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade fiction centers on Petra, a thirteen-year-old navigating family challenges while her older sister Ruby uses witchcraft in everyday life, including working at Bloomingdale's. The story thoughtfully explores themes of family separation and sibling relationships with a gentle touch, suitable for readers aged 9 to 12. There is mild emotional content related to family change but no intense material.

Why we rated Ruby, the red-hot witch at Bloomingdale's 9LE

Ruby, the red-hot witch at Bloomingdale's is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 151 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Ruby, the red-hot witch at Bloomingdale's works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate Ruby, the red-hot witch at Bloomingdale's 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, Ruby, the red-hot witch at Bloomingdale's explores family, witches, siblings, and new york — 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 family, witches, siblings.

Maybe not for

  • ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.

For Parents

Content Intensity

9LE — Light — Emotional
Emotional
Light
Physical
Clear
Social
Clear
Thematic
Clear

Light conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.

Data confidence: standard

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

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

1/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

2/10

A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
4
Emotional Weight
4
Theme Richness
4
World Scope
3
Data Confidence
7

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Details

Book Length

151 pages
ISBN
0140345108
Pages
151
Publisher
Puffin
Published
1993
Type
Fiction

Genres

Subjects

Bloomingdale'sWitchesFamily ProblemsBrothers and SistersNew YorkProblem FamiliesWitchcraft

Places

New York (N.Y.)