What reading level is What Mr. Mattero did?

What Mr. Mattero did by Priscilla Cummings is at a Level 6 reading level. Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is What Mr. Mattero did appropriate for?

What Mr. Mattero did is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 11ME (Moderate — Emotional).

What genre is What Mr. Mattero did?

What Mr. Mattero did is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does What Mr. Mattero did have any content warnings?

What Mr. Mattero did has a HootRating of 11ME (Moderate — Emotional). No specific content flags noted. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is What Mr. Mattero did?

What Mr. Mattero did by Priscilla Cummings is 216 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

What Mr. Mattero did

Priscilla Cummings

What Mr. Mattero did

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Priscilla Cummings

Reading Level 6 11ME 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.

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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 11ME

What Mr. Mattero did is written at a Level 6 reading level across 216 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, What Mr. Mattero did works for readers up to grade 8.0.

We rate What Mr. Mattero did as 11ME ("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 — 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.
✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
✓ 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.
! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.