The hunger pains
Harvard Lampoon (Organization)
The hunger pains
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Parody
by Harvard Lampoon (Organization)
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
A hilarious twist on a famous dystopian saga, this book follows a clever heroine thrust into a fierce survival challenge to protect her home. Packed with sharp wit and playful jabs, it spoofs the original story while exploring big ideas about freedom and power. Fans of clever parodies will enjoy the fun and smart humor woven throughout.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 4-5 book with mild content intensity. Content themes include mild peril, humor. Written for readers ages 13+.
Why we rated The hunger pains 9LP
The hunger pains is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 178 pages (approximately 39,648 words). Strong independent readers around grade 5.9 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The hunger pains works for readers up to grade 6.9.
Read aloud, The hunger pains runs about 4.4 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.
We rate The hunger pains 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, Humor.
Thematically, The hunger pains explores parodies, adventure, social justice, and humor — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about parodies, adventure, social justice.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LP — Light — PhysicalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Content Flags
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
4/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781451668209
- Pages
- 178
- Publisher
- Simon and Schuster
- Published
- 2012
- Type
- Fiction
- Word Count
- 39,648
- Read-Aloud
- ~4h 24m
- Text Density
- Standard