10 things to do before I die
Parker, Daniel
10 things to do before I die
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
a novel
by Parker, Daniel
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 would you do if you only had a little time left? Ted just found out he has a brain tumor, and suddenly, everyday things feel urgent and exciting. With his best friend by his side, he makes a list of ten adventures to live fully—will he complete them all?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows Ted, a boy diagnosed with a brain tumor, as he creates a bucket list to embrace life despite his illness. It sensitively explores themes of friendship, anxiety, and living with terminal illness, making it appropriate for ages 9 to 12. Parents should note the emotional content related to illness and mortality, which is handled thoughtfully and with hope.
Why we rated 10 things to do before I die 11IE
10 things to do before I die is written at a Level 6 reading level across 219 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, 10 things to do before I die works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate 10 things to do before I die as 11IE ("Intense — 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, 10 things to do before I die explores friendship, anxiety, terminally ill, coming of age, and family — 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.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about friendship, anxiety, terminally ill.
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.
For Parents
Content Intensity
11IE — Intense — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0385730071
- Pages
- 219
- Publisher
- Delacorte Books for Young Readers
- Published
- 2004
- Type
- Fiction