What reading level is The stars of summer?

The stars of summer by Dairman, Tara is at a Level 5-6 reading level (Lexile 880L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is The stars of summer appropriate for?

The stars of summer is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 10C (Clear).

What genre is The stars of summer?

The stars of summer is fiction — Humor.

Does The stars of summer have any content warnings?

The stars of summer has a HootRating of 10C (Clear). 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 stars of summer?

The stars of summer by Dairman, Tara is 328 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

The stars of summer

Dairman, Tara

The stars of summer

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

An All Four Stars Book

by Dairman, Tara

Reading Level 5-6 10C Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

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.

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About This Book

Gladys Gatsby is no ordinary camper—she’s a secret restaurant critic in training, even at summer camp! While others swim and hike, Gladys is busy tasting, cooking, and writing reviews that could make or break a dish. Her undercover adventures show that passion can turn any place into a stage for your dreams.

Themes

CookingFriendshipCampsJournalismFiction

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel follows twelve-year-old Gladys Gatsby, who attends summer camp reluctantly but finds ways to pursue her passion for cooking and restaurant reviewing. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story emphasizes friendship, creativity, and self-expression without intense conflict or mature themes. It’s a light, engaging read that encourages kids to explore their interests in new settings.

Why we rated The stars of summer 10C

The stars of summer is written at a Level 5-6 reading level with a Lexile measure of 880L across 328 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 6.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The stars of summer works for readers up to grade 7.5.

We rate The stars of summer 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 stars of summer explores cooking, friendship, camps, journalism, 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 cooking, friendship, camps.

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.
! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.