What reading level is Stinkbomb and Ketchup-Face and the quest for the magic porcupine?

Stinkbomb and Ketchup-Face and the quest for the magic porcupine by John Dougherty is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 720L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

Does Stinkbomb and Ketchup-Face and the quest for the magic porcupine have any content warnings?

Stinkbomb and Ketchup-Face and the quest for the magic porcupine has a HootRating of 9C (Clear). No specific content flags noted. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated July 16, 2026

Stinkbomb and Ketchup-Face and the quest for the magic porcupine

John Dougherty

Stinkbomb and Ketchup-Face and the quest for the magic porcupine

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by John Dougherty

Illustrated by Ricks, Sam, illustrator

Reading Level 4-5 9C Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

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

Stinkbomb and Ketchup-Face are the most unexpected heroes you’ll ever meet—because sometimes, being a little smelly and a bit silly is exactly what you need to save the day. Their wild quest to catch mischievous badgers leads them to a magical porcupine with powers beyond belief. What happens next will change everything in ways no one saw coming!

Themes

HumorMagicFamily AdventureAnimals

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade fiction book follows the humorous and adventurous journey of siblings Stinkbomb and Ketchup-Face as they seek a magical porcupine to capture escaped badgers. Suitable for ages 9-12, it combines themes of family, magic, and adventure with lighthearted humor. Parents should note the story’s playful tone and fantasy elements, making it an engaging read for children developing a love for imaginative tales.

Why we rated Stinkbomb and Ketchup-Face and the quest for the magic porcupine 9C

Stinkbomb and Ketchup-Face and the quest for the magic porcupine is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 720L across 141 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Stinkbomb and Ketchup-Face and the quest for the magic porcupine works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate Stinkbomb and Ketchup-Face and the quest for the magic porcupine 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, Stinkbomb and Ketchup-Face and the quest for the magic porcupine explores humor, magic, family, adventure, and animals — 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, magic, family.

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.