To catch a mermaid
Suzanne Selfors
To catch a mermaid
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Suzanne Selfors
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 mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
The salty sea breeze tickles your nose, and the gentle splash of waves hides a magical secret. Twelve-year-old Boomerang Broom finds a tiny, shimmering baby mermaid who can grant wishes. But when his little sister wants to keep her, their family’s world starts to change in surprising ways.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows Boomerang Broom, a twelve-year-old who discovers a wish-granting baby mermaid. The story explores themes of sibling relationships and family challenges while introducing magical elements that engage young readers. Suitable for ages 9-12, the book handles family dynamics with warmth and fantasy without intense conflict or mature content.
Why we rated To catch a mermaid 11LE
To catch a mermaid is written at a Level 6 reading level across 245 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, To catch a mermaid works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate To catch a mermaid as 11LE ("Light — Emotional") 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.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, To catch a mermaid explores brothers and sisters, juvenile fiction, mermaids, wishes, and dysfunctional families — 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 brothers and sisters, juvenile fiction, mermaids.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A 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
- 9780545214353
- Pages
- 245
- Publisher
- Scholastic
- Published
- 2009
- Type
- Fiction