Stampede of the supermarket slugs
Bill H. Doyle
Stampede of the supermarket slugs
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Bill H. Doyle
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
What if a giant slug took over your local supermarket? Imagine sneaky cousins Keats and Henry facing off against a slimy Wallenda slug that's bigger than anything they've ever seen. Can they stop the stampede before the entire store is covered in goo?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction follows cousins Keats and Henry as they attempt to rid their local supermarket of an enormous, magical Wallenda slug. Geared toward readers ages 9-12, the story blends humor and adventure with light fantasy elements. Parents should note the presence of mild peril and fantastical creatures, making it suitable for kids comfortable with imaginative, suspenseful scenarios.
Why we rated Stampede of the supermarket slugs 9LP
Stampede of the supermarket slugs is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 102 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Stampede of the supermarket slugs works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Stampede of the supermarket slugs as 9LP ("Light — Physical") 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, Stampede of the supermarket slugs explores cousins, adventure, magic, 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.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about cousins, adventure, magic.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LP — Light — PhysicalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A 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
- 9780375869341
- Pages
- 102
- Publisher
- Random House Books for Young Readers
- Published
- 2012
- Type
- Fiction