10 lucky things that have happened to me since I nearly got hit by lightning
Mary Hershey
10 lucky things that have happened to me since I nearly got hit by lightning
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Mary Hershey
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 gentle with no concerning themes.
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About This Book
What would you do if your best friend suddenly wanted to leave your school? Effie’s world feels like it’s tipping over when Aurora, the super-athlete, decides to switch to public school. Can Effie find a way to keep their friendship strong, or will everything change forever?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction explores themes of friendship, identity, and school life through the story of Effie, who faces the challenge of her best friend transferring schools. Set in a Catholic school environment, it provides relatable experiences for readers ages 9-12, emphasizing social dynamics and emotional growth. The story is appropriate for this age group and contains no intense content.
Why we rated 10 lucky things that have happened to me since I nearly got hit by lightning 11LE
10 lucky things that have happened to me since I nearly got hit by lightning is written at a Level 6 reading level across 230 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, 10 lucky things that have happened to me since I nearly got hit by lightning works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate 10 lucky things that have happened to me since I nearly got hit by lightning as 11LE ("Light — Emotional") 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, 10 lucky things that have happened to me since I nearly got hit by lightning explores friendship, identity, family, and school — 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 friendship, identity, family.
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
11LE — Light — EmotionalNo conflict beyond everyday childhood experiences. Safe for sensitive readers.
Was our "Gentle" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A 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
- 9780385735414
- Pages
- 230
- Publisher
- Random House Digital, Inc.
- Published
- 2008
- Type
- Fiction