The Almost Epic Squad: What Blows Up
Ted Staunton
The Almost Epic Squad: What Blows Up
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Ted Staunton
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 you suddenly had the power to move things with your mind but couldn’t quite control it? Gary is growing fast and fumbling faster, trying to master his new abilities and score big on the basketball court. But when a secret government team calls on him to stop a villainous plot, can he save the world before everything blows up?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade adventure follows 13-year-old Gary, who gains telekinetic powers but struggles to control them during a growth spurt. The story combines humor and action as Gary teams up with others to stop a villain seeking a mysterious element called reidium. Suitable for ages 9-12, the book features mild fantasy violence and themes of self-discovery and teamwork.
Why we rated The Almost Epic Squad: What Blows Up 9LE
The Almost Epic Squad: What Blows Up is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 176 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The Almost Epic Squad: What Blows Up works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate The Almost Epic Squad: What Blows Up as 9LE ("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, The Almost Epic Squad: What Blows Up explores adventure, humor, superheroes, friendship, and coming of age — 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 adventure, humor, superheroes.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LE — 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
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781443157827
- Pages
- 176
- Publisher
- Scholastic Canada, Limited
- Published
- 2019
- Type
- Fiction