The Hop

Name: The Hop
Author: Sharelle Byars Moranville
ISBN: 9781423137368

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Sharelle Byars Moranville

Reading Level 4-5 LP · Mild · Physical 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. Its HootRating code, LP, means mild content, mostly physical.

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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 LP (Mild)

The Hop is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 288 pages. Reading-wise, most kids in grade 6 and up can manage The Hop on their own; younger readers can enjoy it with a parent or teacher reading along.

We rate The Hop as LP (Mild, mostly 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.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about conservation, friendship, adventure.

Maybe not for

! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.

For Parents

Content Intensity

LP · Mild · Physical

Emotional

Gentle

Physical

Mild ←

Social

Gentle

Thematic

Gentle

Reading the HootRating code: the first letter is the content intensity (C = Gentle · L = Mild · M = Moderate · I = Intense · V = Very Intense); the second, when there is one, is the kind of content that drives it (E = Emotional · P = Physical · S = Social · T = Thematic). Reading level and age range are rated separately. How we rate

Light conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.