What reading level is Super Soaker inventor Lonnie Johnson?

Super Soaker inventor Lonnie Johnson by Heather E. Schwartz is at a Level 5-6 reading level. Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Super Soaker inventor Lonnie Johnson appropriate for?

Super Soaker inventor Lonnie Johnson is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 10C (Clear).

What genre is Super Soaker inventor Lonnie Johnson?

Super Soaker inventor Lonnie Johnson is nonfiction — Juvenile Nonfiction. Part of the STEM Trailblazer Bios series.

Does Super Soaker inventor Lonnie Johnson have any content warnings?

Super Soaker inventor Lonnie Johnson has a HootRating of 10C (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.

How many pages is Super Soaker inventor Lonnie Johnson?

Super Soaker inventor Lonnie Johnson by Heather E. Schwartz is 32 pages (approximately 2,435 words).

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

Super Soaker inventor Lonnie Johnson

Heather E. Schwartz

Super Soaker inventor Lonnie Johnson

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Heather E. Schwartz

STEM Trailblazer Bios

Reading Level 5-6 10C Ages 9-12 Balanced Read Page-Turner

The text is written at a 5th 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

Discover how Lonnie Johnson's curiosity and creativity led him from a childhood full of questions to inventing the famous Super Soaker water gun. Follow his journey as he combines science and imagination to make playtime more fun for kids everywhere. This inspiring story celebrates the power of innovation and determination.

Themes

InventorsAfrican AmericansScience & Nature Coming of Age Family

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 5-6 book with gentle content intensity. No notable content concerns flagged. Written for readers ages 9-12.

Why we rated Super Soaker inventor Lonnie Johnson 10C

Super Soaker inventor Lonnie Johnson is written at a Level 5-6 reading level across 32 pages (approximately 2,435 words). Strong independent readers around grade 6.1 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Super Soaker inventor Lonnie Johnson works for readers up to grade 7.1.

Read aloud, Super Soaker inventor Lonnie Johnson takes about 16 minutes, which fits within a single read-aloud session.

We rate Super Soaker inventor Lonnie Johnson as 10C ("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, Super Soaker inventor Lonnie Johnson explores inventors, african americans, science & nature, coming of age, and family — 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.
✓ Reluctant readers who need fast-paced, hook-heavy stories to stay engaged.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about inventors, african americans, science & nature.
✓ Readers who fall hard for one book and want a long series to live in — there are 4 more books in the STEM Trailblazer Bios series.
✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.

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.