What reading level is The call?

The call by Michael Grant is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 710L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is The call appropriate for?

The call is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9LE (Light — Emotional).

What genre is The call?

The call is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does The call have any content warnings?

The call has a HootRating of 9LE (Light — Emotional). 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 The call?

The call by Michael Grant is 256 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated July 16, 2026

The call

Michael Grant

The call

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Michael Grant

Reading Level 4-5 9LE 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 mild with minimal sensitive material.

Buy on Amazon Listen on Audible

We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.

About This Book

Mack MacAvoy is the most average kid you’ll ever meet—until a three-thousand-year-old man appears in the bathroom with a wild secret. Suddenly, Mack is one of twelve kids destined to face an ancient evil, but being a hero sounds way scarier than staying ordinary. Can the most medium kid ever answer the call and save the world?

Themes

Fantasy World-Building Adventure HumorGood and EvilComing of Age

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade fantasy adventure follows twelve-year-old Mack, a boy who considers himself ordinary until he learns he is one of twelve children chosen to stop an ancient evil threatening the world. The story blends humor, magic, and excitement while exploring themes of courage and self-discovery. Suitable for ages 9-12, it contains mild fantasy violence and some moments of suspense but remains lighthearted and entertaining.

Why we rated The call 9LE

The call is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 710L across 256 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The call works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate The call 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 call explores fantasy world-building, adventure, humor, good and evil, 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 fantasy world-building, adventure, humor.