What reading level is #scandal?

#scandal by Sarah Ockler is at a Level 5-6 reading level (Lexile 800L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is #scandal appropriate for?

#scandal is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 10LE (Light — Emotional).

What genre is #scandal?

#scandal is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does #scandal have any content warnings?

#scandal has a HootRating of 10LE (Light — Emotional). No specific content flags noted. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is #scandal?

#scandal by Sarah Ockler is 401 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

#scandal

Sarah Ockler

#scandal

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Sarah Ockler

Reading Level 5-6 10LE Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

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 mild with minimal sensitive material.

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About This Book

The buzz of notifications fills the air as Lucy’s phone lights up nonstop. Suddenly, everyone’s talking about the pictures—pictures of her kissing her best friend’s boyfriend. The whispers swirl around the school, and Lucy has to figure out how to face the storm of rumors and feelings.

Themes

FriendshipLoveSocial MediaFamily Coming of Age Humor

Quick Assessment

#scandal by Sarah Ockler is a middle-grade novel that explores the impact of social media on friendships and reputation in a school setting. It deals with themes of love, trust, and the consequences of viral moments with a comedic yet thoughtful tone, suitable for ages 9-12. Parents should note the story involves social conflict and emotional challenges typical of preteen experiences.

Why we rated #scandal 10LE

#scandal is written at a Level 5-6 reading level with a Lexile measure of 800L across 401 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 6.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, #scandal works for readers up to grade 7.5.

We rate #scandal as 10LE ("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, #scandal explores friendship, love, social media, family, and coming of age — 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, love, social media.