What reading level is Secret Time Machine and the Gherkin Switcheroo?

Secret Time Machine and the Gherkin Switcheroo by Simone Lia is at a Level 4-5 reading level. Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Secret Time Machine and the Gherkin Switcheroo appropriate for?

Secret Time Machine and the Gherkin Switcheroo is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9C (Clear).

What genre is Secret Time Machine and the Gherkin Switcheroo?

Secret Time Machine and the Gherkin Switcheroo is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does Secret Time Machine and the Gherkin Switcheroo have any content warnings?

Secret Time Machine and the Gherkin Switcheroo has a HootRating of 9C (Clear). 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 Secret Time Machine and the Gherkin Switcheroo?

Secret Time Machine and the Gherkin Switcheroo by Simone Lia is 192 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated June 9, 2026

Secret Time Machine and the Gherkin Switcheroo

Simone Lia

Secret Time Machine and the Gherkin Switcheroo

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Simone Lia

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

A Junior Library Guild selection

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 gentle with no concerning themes.

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About This Book

Marcus just told a wild fib about his aunt inventing a real time machine—but now he has to make that fib come true! Imagine a brainy aunt, a time-traveling adventure, and the funniest pair of friends—a worm and a bird—teaming up to fix a mess that’s bigger than they expected. It’s not just silly fun; it’s about proving that even the wildest stories can lead to real adventures.

Themes

Friendship Humor Adventure Science & Nature Fantasy World-Building

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade fiction book features a humorous time-travel adventure that centers on friendship and creativity. Suitable for ages 9-12, it includes light science fiction elements and imaginative humor with no notable content concerns. The story encourages problem-solving and the value of honesty in a playful, age-appropriate way.

Why we rated Secret Time Machine and the Gherkin Switcheroo 9C

Secret Time Machine and the Gherkin Switcheroo is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 192 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Secret Time Machine and the Gherkin Switcheroo works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate Secret Time Machine and the Gherkin Switcheroo as 9C ("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.

No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.

Thematically, Secret Time Machine and the Gherkin Switcheroo explores friendship, humor, adventure, science & nature, and fantasy world-building — 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, humor, adventure.
✓ Readers (and parents) who care about award-recognized writing — Secret Time Machine and the Gherkin Switcheroo carries an award.

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.