Saving Montgomery Sole
Mariko Tamaki
Saving Montgomery Sole
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Mariko Tamaki
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 rain mixes with the crisp pages of Monty’s journal as she and her friends, Thomas and Naoki, huddle in their secret club room. They’re not just any kids—they’re on the hunt for the mysterious and the magical, from eerie amulets to strange new arrivals in town. But when the Eye of Know, a glowing crystal, comes into Monty’s hands, everything feels charged with possibility—and maybe even a little danger.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Saving Montgomery Sole is a middle-grade novel that explores themes of friendship, identity, and self-perception through the eyes of Monty, a girl navigating school life with her two close friends. The story touches on issues like bullying and acceptance, featuring LGBTQ+ representation and family diversity. Suitable for ages 9-12, it offers a thoughtful and humorous look at growing up in a small town while embracing difference.
Why we rated Saving Montgomery Sole 11LE
Saving Montgomery Sole is written at a Level 6 reading level across 237 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Saving Montgomery Sole works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Saving Montgomery Sole 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, Saving Montgomery Sole explores friendship, family, self-discovery, lgbtq+ representation, and multicultural — 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 friendship, family, self-discovery.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
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
2/10A 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
- 9781626722729
- Pages
- 237
- Publisher
- Roaring Brook Press
- Published
- 2016
- Type
- Fiction