The Tick
Ben Edlund
The Tick
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Six Action-Packed Adventures
by Ben Edlund
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 city trembles as a towering hero crashes through the streets, ready to take on evil—if only he knew what he was up against! At four hundred pounds and seven feet tall, The Tick is unstoppable, but will his wild plans save the day or cause chaos? The battle is just beginning, and nothing is as it seems.
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade graphic novel features The Tick, a large and eccentric superhero who believes he's fighting evil in the city. Suitable for ages 9-12, the story combines humor and action with a quirky lead character. Parents should note the zany and sometimes chaotic antics, but there is no graphic content or serious violence.
Why we rated The Tick 9LP
The Tick is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 148 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The Tick works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate The Tick as 9LP ("Light — Physical") 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.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Mild Peril, Fantasy Violence.
Thematically, The Tick explores animals - insects, adventure, humor, and superheroes — 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 animals - insects, adventure, humor.
Maybe not for
- ! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LP — Light — PhysicalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Content Flags
Was our "Mild" 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
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780553541977
- Pages
- 148
- Publisher
- Dell Books for Young Readers
- Published
- September 1994
- Type
- Fiction