The wild man
Mark Barratt
The wild man
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Mark Barratt
The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.
About This Book
Joe Rat dodges shadows in the sewers beneath London, heart pounding as danger closes in. Suddenly, he's racing through posh streets, stopping a sneaky burglar in his tracks—just when he thinks things might get easier, a new challenge crashes right into his world. What happens next could change everything.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows Joe Rat, a street-smart boy who escapes a life of hardship and finds unexpected help from a wealthy benefactor. Themes include family reunion, loyalty, and overcoming difficult circumstances, suitable for ages 9-12. Parents should note the story touches on issues like crime, abandonment, and emotional conflict but handles them with care appropriate for this age group.
Why we rated The wild man 12ME
The wild man is written at a Level 7 reading level across 341 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The wild man works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate The wild man as 12ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, social complexity — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.
Thematically, The wild man explores street children, family, coming of age, adventure, and loyalty — 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.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about street children, family, coming of age.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
The wild ones
C. Alexander London
The wild ones
C. Alexander London
Born to be wild
Matt London
Born to be wild
Matt London
Joe Rat
Mark Barratt
Joe Rat
Mark Barratt
Wild Boy
Rob Lloyd Jones
Wild Boy
Rob Lloyd Jones
The Wild Kid
Harry Mazer
The Wild Kid
Harry Mazer
Wild Boy & the Black Terror
Rob Lloyd Jones
Wild Boy & the Black Terror
Rob Lloyd Jones
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780802853776
- Pages
- 341
- Publisher
- Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
- Published
- 2010
- Type
- Fiction