Timmy Failure
Stephan Pastis
Timmy Failure
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
Sanitized for Your Protection
by Stephan Pastis
The text is written at a 6th 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
The sharp zing of a tangerine fills the air as Timmy Failure embarks on a wild cross-country adventure with his trusty polar bear, Total. Strange smells, strange friends, and even stranger criminals swirl around him in a world that's upside down. Can Timmy solve the mystery before it's too late?
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction follows Timmy Failure, a young private investigator, as he navigates a humorous and imaginative cross-country journey with his quirky companions, including a polar bear. The story combines mystery and friendship with lighthearted humor, suitable for readers aged 9-12. Parents should note the playful tone and some mild suspense but no concerning content.
Why we rated Timmy Failure 11C
Timmy Failure is written at a Level 6 reading level across 288 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Timmy Failure works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Timmy Failure as 11C ("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, Timmy Failure explores friendship, adventure, mystery, and humor — 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 friendship, adventure, mystery.
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
11C — ClearNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
4/10A 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
- 9781536208764
- Pages
- 288
- Publisher
- National Geographic Books
- Published
- 2019
- Type
- Fiction