Your mummy is a nose picker
Gordon Korman
Your mummy is a nose picker
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Gordon Korman
The text is written at a 4th 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
The dusty scent of ancient papyrus fills the air as Devin and his alien friend Stan tiptoe through the bustling streets of Egypt long ago. The sun beats down on golden sands while a strange mission buzzes in their minds: find the elusive Nile Delta goldenrod. Their adventure holds more than just sneezes—it could change everything.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction follows Devin and an alien named Stan on a time-travel journey to ancient Egypt. Together, they seek a rare plant to help Stan keep his job by triggering sneezes in alien tourists. The book blends imaginative science fiction with historical settings, suitable for ages 9 to 12, featuring themes of friendship, adventure, and cultural exploration.
Why we rated Your mummy is a nose picker 9C
Your mummy is a nose picker is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 153 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Your mummy is a nose picker works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Your mummy is a nose picker as 9C ("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, Your mummy is a nose picker explores extraterrestrial beings, time travel, adventure, historical, and friendship — 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 extraterrestrial beings, time travel, adventure.
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
9C — ClearNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A 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
- 0786825871
- Pages
- 153
- Publisher
- Hyperion
- Published
- 2000
- Type
- Fiction