What Mr. Mattero did

Name: What Mr. Mattero did
Author: Priscilla Cummings
ISBN: 0525476210

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Priscilla Cummings

Reading Level 6 ME · Moderate · Emotional Ages 9-12 Matched

A Junior Library Guild selection

The text is written at a 6th 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. Its HootRating code, ME, means moderate content, mostly emotional.

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About This Book

What happens when a trusted teacher suddenly faces serious accusations? Imagine a quiet school filled with music and laughter suddenly shaken by shocking claims. Can the truth be found before everything falls apart?

Themes

FamiliesHonestyFamily lifeJuvenile fiction

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel explores the impact of serious accusations on a school community, focusing on themes of honesty, family dynamics, and the search for truth. Suitable for ages 9-12, it handles sensitive topics with care, encouraging critical thinking and empathy without explicit content.

Why we rated What Mr. Mattero did ME (Moderate)

What Mr. Mattero did is written at a Level 6 reading level across 216 pages. Reading-wise, most kids in grade 7 and up can manage What Mr. Mattero did on their own; younger readers can enjoy it with a parent or teacher reading along.

We rate What Mr. Mattero did as ME (Moderate, mostly 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 — 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, What Mr. Mattero did explores families, honesty, family life, and juvenile fiction — 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 families, honesty, family life.
✓ Readers (and parents) who care about award-recognized writing — What Mr. Mattero did carries an award.

Maybe not for

! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.

For Parents

Content Intensity

ME · Moderate · Emotional

Emotional

Moderate ←

Physical

Gentle

Social

Mild

Thematic

Mild

Reading the HootRating code: the first letter is the content intensity (C = Gentle · L = Mild · M = Moderate · I = Intense · V = Very Intense); the second, when there is one, is the kind of content that drives it (E = Emotional · P = Physical · S = Social · T = Thematic). Reading level and age range are rated separately. How we rate

Real stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.

Data confidence: standard

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