Whatshisface
Gordon Korman
Whatshisface
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Gordon Korman
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
Cooper’s new phone buzzes with a message from someone he’s never met. But this isn’t just any message—it’s from a mysterious boy named Roderick, reaching out from somewhere unknown. As Cooper tries to figure out what’s going on, the phone starts acting stranger than ever—what secret is it hiding?
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows 12-year-old Cooper Vega, who struggles with frequent moves and finds an unusual way to connect through a mysterious smartphone. The story blends humor, mystery, and a bit of the supernatural, making it suitable for readers ages 9-12. It contains light suspense and themes of friendship and adjustment, with no significant content concerns.
Why we rated Whatshisface 11LE
Whatshisface is written at a Level 6 reading level across 231 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Whatshisface works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Whatshisface 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, Whatshisface explores humor, mystery, friendship, and coming of age — 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 humor, mystery, friendship.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
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
3/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781338200164
- Pages
- 231
- Publisher
- Scholastic Press
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction