Tom Gates 19 : Tom Gates 19 : Random Acts of Fun

Liz Pichon

Tom Gates 19 : Tom Gates 19 : Random Acts of Fun

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

the Laugh-Out-loud, Brand New Bestseller!

by Liz Pichon

Reading Level 6 11C Ages 9-12 Balanced Read

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

Tom Gates is stuck at home with a broken ankle, but that’s not going to stop his fun! With doodles on his cast, visits from family and friends, and secret languages, Tom finds laughter in every corner. But will he ever get his hands on the last caramel doughnut before anyone else does?

Themes

FamilySiblingsHumor FriendshipCreativity

Quick Assessment

This humorous middle-grade diary-style book follows Tom Gates as he navigates the challenges of being homebound with a fractured ankle. Filled with playful illustrations and relatable family moments, it offers lighthearted fun suitable for ages 9 to 12. Themes of creativity, friendship, and everyday adventures are explored without any intense content.

Why we rated Tom Gates 19 : Tom Gates 19 : Random Acts of Fun 11C

Tom Gates 19 : Tom Gates 19 : Random Acts of Fun is written at a Level 6 reading level across 256 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Tom Gates 19 : Tom Gates 19 : Random Acts of Fun works for readers up to grade 8.0.

We rate Tom Gates 19 : Tom Gates 19 : Random Acts of Fun 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, Tom Gates 19 : Tom Gates 19 : Random Acts of Fun explores family, siblings, humor, friendship, and creativity — 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 family, siblings, humor.
✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.

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.

For Parents

Content Intensity

11C — Clear

Emotional

Clear

Physical

Clear

Social

Clear

Thematic

Clear

No conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.

Data confidence: standard

Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

2/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

1/10

A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level

Emotional Weight

Theme Richness

World Scope

Data Confidence

NILL

Level 6

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Details

Book Length

256 pages

ISBN: 9781407191119
Pages: 256
Publisher: Scholastic
Published: 2021
Type: Nonfiction

Genres

Juvenile Nonfiction

Subjects

FamilySiblingsHumorous StoriesSchool & Education