Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated
Sir stinks-a-lot
Dav Pilkey
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. Its HootRating code, LE, means mild content, mostly emotional.
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About This Book
George and Harold sneak into the gym, hearts pounding as their doubles march in perfect unison under the gym teacher’s strange mind-control spell. Just as the doubles start to obey every command without question, George spots a chance to break the spell—but will it be too late?
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction book follows George and Harold as they face a humorous yet adventurous challenge when their doubles fall under a gym teacher’s mind-control. Suitable for ages 9-12, it combines action, school life, and technology themes with light humor. Parents should note the story includes mild peril and imaginative fantasy elements typical of Dav Pilkey’s style.
Why we rated Sir stinks-a-lot LE (Mild)
Sir stinks-a-lot is written at a Level 5-6 reading level across 205 pages. Reading-wise, most kids in grade 7 and up can manage Sir stinks-a-lot on their own; younger readers can enjoy it with a parent or teacher reading along.
We rate Sir stinks-a-lot as LE (Mild, mostly 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, Sir stinks-a-lot explores humor, adventure, school, and technology — 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 humor, adventure, school.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
LE · Mild · EmotionalReading the HootRating code: the first letter is the content intensity (C = Gentle · L = Mild · M = Moderate · I = Intense · V = Very Intense); the second, when there is one, is the kind of content that drives it (E = Emotional · P = Physical · S = Social · T = Thematic). Reading level and age range are rated separately. How we rate
Light conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780545504928
- Pages
- 205
- Publisher
- Scholastic, Incorporated
- Published
- 2015
- Type
- Fiction