Soup & me
Robert Newton Peck
Soup & me
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Robert Newton Peck
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
Rob and Soup aren’t just best friends—they’re unstoppable troublemakers in a tiny Vermont town! Every adventure they dive into is packed with laughter, surprises, and a whole lot of heart. Their friendship shows how much fun growing up can be when you’ve got the perfect partner in crime.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction book follows Rob and Soup, two close friends navigating childhood in a small Vermont town. It captures themes of friendship and growing up with humor and warmth, suitable for ages 9-12. The story contains light mischief typical of the age group, with no concerning content.
Why we rated Soup & me 9C
Soup & me is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 115 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Soup & me works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Soup & me 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, Soup & me centers on friendship.
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.
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.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9C — ClearNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A 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
- 9780440481874
- Pages
- 115
- Publisher
- Yearling
- Published
- 1979
- Type
- Fiction