Rumor has it
Jane B. Mason
Rumor has it
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Jane B. Mason
The text is written at a 5th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.
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About This Book
Audrey is eager to befriend the new girl, Mailee, but isn't sure if the feeling is mutual. To uncover the truth, she creates a secret slam book where classmates share their thoughts anonymously, sparking excitement and curiosity throughout sixth grade. As the gossip spreads, Audrey must decide if discovering everyone's secrets is worth the trouble it brings.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 5 book with gentle content intensity. Content themes include friendship. Written for readers ages 9-12.
Why we rated Rumor has it 10C
Rumor has it is written at a Level 5 reading level across 142 pages (approximately 26,046 words). Strong independent readers around grade 6.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Rumor has it works for readers up to grade 7.0.
Read aloud, Rumor has it runs about 2.9 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.
We rate Rumor has it as 10C ("Clear") because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Friendship.
Thematically, Rumor has it explores friendship, gossip, middle school students, and juvenile fiction — 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, gossip, middle school students.
- ✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there are 2 more books in the Candy Apple series.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
For Parents
Content Intensity
10C — ClearNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Content Flags
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
4/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
More in the Candy Apple Series
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780545166768
- Pages
- 142
- Publisher
- Scholastic Inc.
- Published
- 2010
- Type
- Fiction
- Word Count
- 26,046
- Read-Aloud
- ~2h 54m
- Text Density
- Standard