What reading level is The peppermint pig?

The peppermint pig by Nina Bawden is at a Level 4-5 reading level. Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is The peppermint pig appropriate for?

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

What genre is The peppermint pig?

The peppermint pig is fiction — Children's stories.

Does The peppermint pig have any content warnings?

The peppermint pig 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 peppermint pig?

The peppermint pig by Nina Bawden is 192 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated June 9, 2026

The peppermint pig

Nina Bawden

The peppermint pig

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Nina Bawden

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

The sweet, crunchy crack of peppermint fills the air, mixing with the soft snuffles of a tiny piglet. Polly’s world shifts as she discovers a special pig that brings hope and warmth to her family during tough times. Sometimes, the smallest things can change everything.

Themes

FamilyAnimalsComing of Age

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel follows Polly as she navigates a sudden change in her family's financial situation. Through the introduction of a unique pet pig, the story explores themes of adjustment, family bonds, and resilience, suitable for readers aged 9 to 12. The book contains gentle emotional content appropriate for this age group.

Why we rated The peppermint pig 9LE

The peppermint pig is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 192 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The peppermint pig works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate The peppermint pig 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 peppermint pig explores family, animals, and coming of age — 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 family, animals, coming of age.