What reading level is Simon Ellis, spelling bee champ?

Simon Ellis, spelling bee champ by Claudia Mills is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 790L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Simon Ellis, spelling bee champ appropriate for?

Simon Ellis, spelling bee champ is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9LE (Light — Emotional).

What genre is Simon Ellis, spelling bee champ?

Simon Ellis, spelling bee champ is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does Simon Ellis, spelling bee champ have any content warnings?

Simon Ellis, spelling bee champ has a HootRating of 9LE (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 Simon Ellis, spelling bee champ?

Simon Ellis, spelling bee champ by Claudia Mills is 130 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

Simon Ellis, spelling bee champ

Claudia Mills

Simon Ellis, spelling bee champ

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Claudia Mills

Illustrated by Shepperson, Rob, illustrator

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

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

Simon Ellis is the fiercest speller in his third-grade class, and no one can beat him—until the big spelling bee changes everything. His fierce drive to win makes the competition tough, but what happens when Simon learns that winning isn't always about being the best? This surprise twist shows why sharing the spotlight can be the ultimate victory.

Themes

FriendshipCompetitionSportsmanshipSchool Life

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade fiction book explores themes of competition, sportsmanship, and friendship through the story of Simon Ellis, a third grader who competes in a school spelling bee. Appropriate for ages 9-12, it gently addresses social dynamics and the value of empathy and cooperation in a competitive setting. Parents can expect a positive message about balancing ambition with kindness.

Why we rated Simon Ellis, spelling bee champ 9LE

Simon Ellis, spelling bee champ is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 790L across 130 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Simon Ellis, spelling bee champ works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate Simon Ellis, spelling bee champ as 9LE ("Light — Emotional") 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, Simon Ellis, spelling bee champ explores friendship, competition, sportsmanship, and school life — 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, competition, sportsmanship.

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.
! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.