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Cover of The Terrible Two

Age rating and parents' guide:The Terrible Two

by Mac Barnett & Jory John

Ages 9–11

The Terrible Two by Mac Barnett & Jory John is best for children aged 9–11. It has no violence, nothing scary, no romance and no bad language.

Two pranksters compete against their stern principal, but their elaborate tricks lead to friendship and an unexpected common enemy.

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Content ratings

How much of each a parent can expect, from none to strong.

Violence
None
Scary moments
None
Romance
None
Bad language
None
Dhiraj Bodade

Content checked by Dhiraj Bodade, co-founder of Bookstaken, on 21 September 2026.

At a glance

  • ★Early chapter book
  • ★Part of the Terrible Two series
  • ★Easy to get into from the first page
  • ★Plenty of illustrations
  • ★Emotionally light
  • ★A good pick for reluctant readers

Great for kids who like

  • School life
  • Friendship

Reading mood

  • Playful

Good to talk about

  • Friendship
  • School life

Books like The Terrible Two

Similar stories for the same ages, none more intense than this one should be for its youngest readers.

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    Wanda’s classmates mock her claim of owning one hundred dresses, then discover the truth through her remarkable drawings.

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    Ages 9–14

    The Boy at the Back of the Class

    by Onjali Q. Rauf

    A refugee boy joins Alexa’s class, and classmates work together to reunite him with his missing family.

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  • Cover of Billionaire Boy

    Ages 9–11

    Billionaire Boy

    by David Walliams

    Lonely billionaire’s son Joe Spud learns that unlimited money cannot buy genuine friendship or solve every family problem.

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  • Cover of Ramona Quimby, Age 8

    Ages 6–11

    Ramona Quimby, Age 8

    by Beverly Cleary

    Third-grader Ramona faces a demanding teacher, family money worries, and embarrassing mistakes while trying to act grown-up.

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  • Cover of Each Kindness

    Ages 6–11

    Each Kindness

    by Jacqueline Woodson

    Chloe ignores a lonely classmate’s attempts at friendship, then learns too late that small acts of kindness matter.

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  • Cover of Diary of a Wimpy Kid

    Ages 9–11

    Diary of a Wimpy Kid

    by Jeff Kinney

    Greg Heffley records middle-school embarrassments, family conflicts, and misguided schemes in his illustrated diary.

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On these book lists

  • Books like Diary of a Wimpy Kid

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Questions parents ask

Q: What age is The Terrible Two for?
The Terrible Two suits children aged 9–11. It is an early chapter book: easy to get into from the first page, plenty of illustrations.
Q: Is The Terrible Two appropriate for a 9 year old?
Yes. Bookstaken rates it for ages 9–11. It has no violence, nothing scary, no romance and no bad language.
Q: Is The Terrible Two part of a series?
Yes, it belongs to the Terrible Two series. If your child enjoys it, the other Terrible Two books are the easiest next step.
Q: What should my child read after The Terrible Two?
Try The Hundred Dresses, The Boy at the Back of the Class and Billionaire Boy. They share the same kind of story and suit the same ages.
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