What reading level is The bad apple?

The bad apple by T. R. Burns is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 720L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is The bad apple appropriate for?

The bad apple is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9ME (Moderate — Emotional). Content flags: Social Issues, Cultural Conflict, Identity & Self-Discovery.

What genre is The bad apple?

The bad apple is fiction — Juvenile Fiction. Part of the Merits of Mischief series.

Does The bad apple have any content warnings?

The bad apple has a HootRating of 9ME (Moderate — Emotional). Content flags include: Social Issues, Cultural Conflict, Identity & Self-Discovery. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is The bad apple?

The bad apple by T. R. Burns is 354 pages (approximately 59,733 words).

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

The bad apple

T. R. Burns

The bad apple

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by T. R. Burns

Merits of Mischief

Reading Level 4-5 9ME Ages 9-12 Matched

The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.

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About This Book

This lively collection of poems explores a wide range of topics, from the everyday wonders of nature to complex social issues around the world. With humor and heart, the verses invite readers to see meaning in unexpected places and reflect on diverse experiences. Each poem offers a fresh perspective on life’s challenges and surprises.

Themes

Humor Social Justice MulticulturalPoetry

Quick Assessment

This is a Level 4-5 book with moderate content intensity. Content themes include social issues, cultural conflict, identity & self-discovery. Written for readers ages 9-12.

Why we rated The bad apple 9ME

The bad apple is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 720L across 354 pages (approximately 59,733 words). Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The bad apple works for readers up to grade 6.5.

Read aloud, The bad apple runs about 6.6 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.

We rate The bad apple as 9ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Social Issues, Cultural Conflict, Identity & Self-Discovery.

Thematically, The bad apple explores humor, social justice, multicultural, and poetry — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers. Each of these themes is concrete enough to seed a real conversation, not just a moral lesson.

Good fit for

✓ Children in the Ages 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
✓ Readers who like a steady plot with enough momentum to keep pages turning.
✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about humor, social justice, multicultural.