What reading level is The Hop?

The Hop by Sharelle Byars Moranville is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 700L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is The Hop appropriate for?

The Hop is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9LP (Light — Physical). Content flags: Mild Peril.

What genre is The Hop?

The Hop is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does The Hop have any content warnings?

The Hop has a HootRating of 9LP (Light — Physical). Content flags include: Mild Peril. 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 Hop?

The Hop by Sharelle Byars Moranville is 288 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

The Hop

Sharelle Byars Moranville

The Hop

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Sharelle Byars Moranville

Reading Level 4-5 9LP 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

Here’s a secret: a tiny toad named Tad is about to face a giant machine that could wipe out his whole world. To save his home, Tad must do something that seems impossible—a toad has to kiss a human girl! But that’s only the beginning.

Themes

ConservationFriendship AdventureEnvironmental AwarenessAnimals

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade fiction follows Tad, a small toad on a daring mission to save his home from destruction by a monstrous machine. Alongside his friend and a determined girl named Taylor, the story explores themes of conservation and bravery appropriate for ages 9-12. Parents should note the story involves mild peril and environmental messages.

Why we rated The Hop 9LP

The Hop is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 700L across 288 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The Hop works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate The Hop as 9LP ("Light — Physical") 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.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mild Peril.

Thematically, The Hop explores conservation, friendship, adventure, environmental awareness, and animals — 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 conservation, friendship, adventure.