Skinny dip
Carl Hiaasen
Skinny dip
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
a novel
by Carl Hiaasen
The text is written at a 5th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
Chaz Perrone, a marine scientist with questionable morals, tampers with water tests to help a greedy agribusiness pollute the Everglades. When his wife Joey discovers the truth, he tries to get rid of her, but she survives and teams up with a tough ex-cop to outsmart him. Together, they dive into a wild adventure full of danger, dark humor, and environmental battles.
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 5-6 book with moderate content intensity. Content themes include mild peril, substance use, romantic content. Written for readers ages 13+.
Why we rated Skinny dip 10MP
Skinny dip is written at a Level 5-6 reading level across 374 pages (approximately 117,630 words). Strong independent readers around grade 6.6 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Skinny dip works for readers up to grade 7.6.
Read aloud, Skinny dip runs about 13.1 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.
We rate Skinny dip as 10MP ("Moderate — Physical") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from physical peril, social complexity — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mild Peril, Substance Use, Romantic Content.
Thematically, Skinny dip explores environmental issues, crime and justice, adventure, and romance — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about environmental issues, crime and justice, adventure.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
10MP — Moderate — PhysicalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Content Flags
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0375411089
- Pages
- 374
- Publisher
- Knopf
- Published
- 2004
- Type
- Fiction
- Word Count
- 117,630
- Read-Aloud
- ~13h 4m
- Text Density
- Dense