The entomological tales of Augustus T. Percival
Dene Low
The entomological tales of Augustus T. Percival
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
The Entomological Tales of Augustus T. Percival
by Dene Low
Illustrated by Corace, Jen, illustrator
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
Have you ever wondered what secrets hide behind a bug-eating uncle's curious smile? At Petronella's sixteenth birthday party, guests start vanishing without a trace, and mysterious ransom notes appear. Can Uncle Augustus crack the case before the party turns into a full-blown mystery?
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade mystery follows Petronella and her eccentric guardian, Uncle Augustus, as they investigate strange disappearances at her birthday party. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story blends humor, adventure, and a touch of suspense without graphic content. Themes include family relationships, insects, and detective work, making it a fun and engaging read for young mystery fans.
Why we rated The entomological tales of Augustus T. Percival 9MT
The entomological tales of Augustus T. Percival is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 196 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The entomological tales of Augustus T. Percival works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate The entomological tales of Augustus T. Percival as 9MT ("Moderate — Thematic") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Kidnapping.
Thematically, The entomological tales of Augustus T. Percival explores family, mystery, adventure, and insects — 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 family, mystery, adventure.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9MT — Moderate — ThematicReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Content Flags
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780547328867
- Pages
- 196
- Publisher
- Houghton Mifflin
- Published
- 2010
- Type
- Fiction