Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated
Smek for president!
Adam Rex
Smek for president!
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Adam Rex
Illustrated by McCarthy, Keeli, illustrator
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 mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
J.Lo and Tip zoom through space in a spaceship made from a Chevy, chasing a chance to fix a big alien mix-up. Suddenly, they're surrounded by Boov who want to make J.Lo their biggest enemy—right before the most important election ever. Can they clear J.Lo's name before it's too late?
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade sequel follows Tip and J.Lo as they embark on a fun and fast-paced intergalactic adventure to clear J.Lo's name among the Boov aliens. The story blends humor, friendship, and sci-fi elements suitable for ages 9-12, with light peril and inventive scenarios. Parents should know the plot includes themes of mistaken identity and political intrigue but remains appropriate for its target audience.
Why we rated Smek for president! 9LE
Smek for president! is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 720L across 245 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Smek for president! works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Smek for president! as 9LE ("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, Smek for president! explores humor, adventure, science & nature, friendship, 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 humor, adventure, science & nature.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781484709511
- Pages
- 245
- Publisher
- Disney-Hyperion
- Published
- 2015
- Type
- Fiction
- Lexile
- 720L