The naughty list
Suzanne Young
The naughty list
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Suzanne Young
The text is written at a 6th 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
Tessa isn’t just any cheerleader—she’s the mastermind behind a secret spy club that catches cheating boyfriends red-handed. But what happens when her own boyfriend ends up on the naughty list? Everything changes, and Tessa has to decide what loyalty really means.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows Tessa, a head cheerleader who leads a secret club dedicated to exposing dishonest relationships at school. When her own boyfriend is accused of cheating, the story explores themes of trust, friendship, and social dynamics in a humorous and age-appropriate way. Suitable for readers aged 9-12, the book handles dating and social themes with lightheartedness and no explicit content.
Why we rated The naughty list 11MS
The naughty list is written at a Level 6 reading level across 239 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The naughty list works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate The naughty list as 11MS ("Moderate — Social") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. The strongest signals come from social complexity — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, The naughty list explores friendship, humor, social justice, dating & relationships, and girls & women — 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, humor, social justice.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11MS — Moderate — SocialLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A 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
- 9781595142788
- Pages
- 239
- Publisher
- Penguin
- Published
- 2010
- Type
- Fiction