Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated
The rat prince
Bridget Hodder
The rat prince
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A New Twist on Cinderella
by Bridget Hodder
The text is written at a 5th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is gentle with no concerning themes.
We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.
About This Book
Discover a clever twist on the classic Cinderella tale where the story unfolds through the eyes of both Cinderella and a rat who transforms into a coachman. This charming and humorous adventure blends magic, mischief, and a touch of romance as unlikely friends work together to change their destinies. Perfect for readers who enjoy fairy tales with a playful new perspective.
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 5-6 book with gentle content intensity. No notable content concerns flagged. Written for readers ages 9-12.
Why we rated The rat prince 10C
The rat prince is written at a Level 5-6 reading level with a Lexile measure of 830L across 260 pages (approximately 47,811 words). Strong independent readers around grade 6.9 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The rat prince works for readers up to grade 7.9.
Read aloud, The rat prince runs about 5.3 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.
We rate The rat prince as 10C ("Clear") because the content sits in the "Gentle" range — no conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly gentle; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the gentle intensity score.
Thematically, The rat prince explores fantasy world-building, friendship, family, humor, and romance — 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about fantasy world-building, friendship, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers whose emotional readiness lags behind their decoding skills — this book's intensity outruns its reading level, a classic "gifted kid" mismatch.
For Parents
Content Intensity
10C — ClearNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
That pesky rat
Lauren Child
That pesky rat
Lauren Child
Little Red Rodent Hood
Ursula Vernon
Little Red Rodent Hood
Ursula Vernon
Prince Rabbit
A. A. Milne
Prince Rabbit
A. A. Milne
A rat's tale
Tor Seidler
A rat's tale
Tor Seidler
Rats
Anna Claybourne
Rats
Anna Claybourne
I Was a Rat
Philip Pullman
I Was a Rat
Philip Pullman
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780374302139
- Pages
- 260
- Publisher
- Macmillan
- Published
- 2016
- Type
- Fiction
- Word Count
- 47,811
- Lexile
- 830L
- Read-Aloud
- ~5h 19m
- Text Density
- Standard