Squirrel and Duck
Tom Percival
Squirrel and Duck
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Mission Improbable
by Tom Percival
The text is written at a 6th 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
What if the only two talking animals in the world teamed up to stop silly burglars with just a pet cactus? Squirrel and Duck live in an abandoned theme park, but when bulldozers arrive, their peaceful home is in danger. Can they outsmart the thieves and save the day, or will their adventure take a surprising turn?
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction follows Squirrel and Duck, two unlikely friends and the only talking animals in the world, as they navigate challenges including home loss and thwarting bumbling burglars with humor and teamwork. The story contains light peril and comedic situations suitable for ages 9-12, emphasizing friendship and problem-solving. Parents can expect a fun, engaging read with positive messages and no intense content.
Why we rated Squirrel and Duck 11LE
Squirrel and Duck is written at a Level 6 reading level across 240 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Squirrel and Duck works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Squirrel and Duck as 11LE ("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, Squirrel and Duck explores friendship, adventure, humor, 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 friendship, adventure, humor.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11LE — 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
- 9781526665638
- Pages
- 240
- Publisher
- Bloomsbury Publishing
- Published
- 2025
- Type
- Fiction