What reading level is The good, the bad & the beagle?

The good, the bad & the beagle by Catherine Lloyd Burns is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 720L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is The good, the bad & the beagle appropriate for?

The good, the bad & the beagle is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9LE (Light — Emotional).

What genre is The good, the bad & the beagle?

The good, the bad & the beagle is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does The good, the bad & the beagle have any content warnings?

The good, the bad & the beagle 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 good, the bad & the beagle?

The good, the bad & the beagle by Catherine Lloyd Burns is 331 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

The good, the bad & the beagle

Catherine Lloyd Burns

The good, the bad & the beagle

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Catherine Lloyd Burns

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.

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About This Book

Veronica clutches her backpack tightly as she steps into the noisy halls of Randolf School, feeling like a tiny fish in a huge, unpredictable sea. Just when she thinks she can't handle another day, a surprising friendship sparks—and a secret plan begins to form. But will Veronica's biggest wish come true before the school year ends?

Themes

Friendship Family HumorSocial Issues

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel follows Veronica, an introverted eleven-year-old navigating the challenges of a new school and family expectations. Through humor and relatable social situations, the story explores themes of friendship, personal growth, and responsibility. Suitable for ages 9-12, it provides a gentle look at social adjustment without intense conflict or mature content.

Why we rated The good, the bad & the beagle 9LE

The good, the bad & the beagle is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 720L across 331 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The good, the bad & the beagle works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate The good, the bad & the beagle 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 good, the bad & the beagle explores friendship, family, humor, and social issues — 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 friendship, family, humor.