Samantha Spinner and the super-secret plans
Russell Ginns
Samantha Spinner and the super-secret plans
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Russell Ginns
Illustrated by Skorjanc, Barbara Fisinger, illustrator
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
Here's a secret: Samantha Spinner's uncle vanished, leaving behind some really strange gifts—a check for billions, a baseball team, and a rusty red umbrella tagged with a cryptic warning: "Watch out for the RAIN." What could it mean? Sam’s about to uncover puzzles and secrets that will change everything, but that’s only the beginning.
Quick Assessment
Samantha Spinner and the Super-Secret Plans is a middle-grade adventure full of puzzles, humor, and mystery suitable for readers ages 9 to 12. The story follows Samantha as she unravels clues left by her missing uncle, combining fast-paced action with family dynamics and clever problem-solving. Content is appropriate for the target age group, with light suspense and playful challenges but no concerning material.
Why we rated Samantha Spinner and the super-secret plans 11LE
Samantha Spinner and the super-secret plans is written at a Level 6 reading level across 246 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Samantha Spinner and the super-secret plans works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Samantha Spinner and the super-secret plans as 11LE ("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, Samantha Spinner and the super-secret plans explores family, adventure, mystery, and puzzle-solving — 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 family, adventure, mystery.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A 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
- 9781524720001
- Pages
- 246
- Publisher
- Delacorte Press
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction