The Bubblegum Guy
Joost Drost
The Bubblegum Guy
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
How To Deal With How You Feel
by Joost Drost
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
The squelch of sticky bubblegum fills the air as Bubblegum Guy’s temper explodes in a gooey mess! Can he find a way to keep his feelings from turning everyone around him into a sticky disaster? His journey to control his emotions might just change everything.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This interactive middle-grade book combines a relatable story with practical activities designed to help children aged 9-13 manage anger and express emotions constructively. It includes resources for both school and home use, supporting emotional learning in a gentle and engaging way. Parents and educators will appreciate its focus on emotional regulation and self-expression tailored for children with emotional and behavioral challenges.
Why we rated The Bubblegum Guy 9ME
The Bubblegum Guy is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 110 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The Bubblegum Guy works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate The Bubblegum Guy as 9ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. The strongest signals come from emotional weight — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, The Bubblegum Guy explores emotional & behavioral difficulties, special education, friendship, education, and self-discovery — 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 emotional & behavioral difficulties, special education, friendship.
- ✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9ME — Moderate — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A 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
- 9781412910675
- Pages
- 110
- Publisher
- Paul Chapman Educational Publishing
- Published
- December 31, 2004
- Type
- Nonfiction