What reading level is The new kid?

The new kid by Mavis Jukes is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 700L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is The new kid appropriate for?

The new kid is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9LE (Light — Emotional).

What genre is The new kid?

The new kid is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does The new kid have any content warnings?

The new kid 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 new kid?

The new kid by Mavis Jukes is 277 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

The new kid

Mavis Jukes

The new kid

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Mavis Jukes

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

Carson Blum is about to prove that being the new kid isn’t just about fitting in—it’s about standing out. Moving to a huge new school may seem scary, but Carson’s bravery and kindness could change everything. What will it take for him to find his place when everything is so different?

Themes

SchoolsHousehold MovingFriendshipSingle-parent familiesFiction

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade fiction book follows Carson Blum, a nearly nine-year-old boy who moves with his single father to Northern California. It thoughtfully explores themes of adjusting to a new school, making friends, and navigating family changes, making it suitable for readers aged 9-12. The story offers a gentle look at the challenges and excitement of transitions without intense conflict or mature content.

Why we rated The new kid 9LE

The new kid is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 700L across 277 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The new kid works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate The new kid 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 new kid explores schools, household moving, friendship, single-parent families, and fiction — 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 schools, household moving, friendship.