The nose from Jupiter

Name: The nose from Jupiter
Author: Richard Scrimger
ISBN: 0887764282

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Richard Scrimger

Reading Level 4-5 9LE Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

Mr. Christie's Book Award

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.

Find on Amazon Listen on Audible

We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.

About This Book

Alan's nose has a secret — it's home to Norbert, a loud and hilarious alien from Jupiter! Suddenly, Alan isn't the same shy kid anymore. But is Norbert really the one changing him, or is there more to the story?

Themes

Science & Nature Humor Friendship Coming of Age Fantasy World-Building

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel follows Alan, a struggling and bullied boy whose life changes when Norbert, an alien from Jupiter, moves into his nose. The story blends humor and science fiction to explore themes of self-confidence and standing up to bullies. Suitable for ages 9-12, it offers a fun yet meaningful look at personal growth without intense content.

Why we rated The nose from Jupiter 9LE

The nose from Jupiter is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 156 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The nose from Jupiter works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate The nose from Jupiter 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 nose from Jupiter explores science & nature, humor, friendship, coming of age, and fantasy world-building — 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 science & nature, humor, friendship.
✓ Readers (and parents) who care about award-recognized writing — The nose from Jupiter carries an award.