About that night
Norah McClintock
About that night
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Norah McClintock
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
Here’s a secret: Derek vanished without a trace, and suddenly Jordie is the one everyone’s watching. What really happened on that night nobody talks about? But that’s only the beginning.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade mystery follows Jordie as she becomes the prime suspect in the disappearance of her boyfriend, Derek. It explores themes of trust, secrets, and the complexities of interpersonal relationships suitable for ages 9-12. The story involves suspense around a missing person but contains no graphic content, making it appropriate for middle-grade readers.
Why we rated About that night 11LE
About that night is written at a Level 6 reading level across 238 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, About that night works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate About that night 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, About that night explores mystery, missing persons, interpersonal relations, and juvenile fiction — 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 mystery, missing persons, interpersonal relations.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
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
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
- 9781459805941
- Pages
- 238
- Publisher
- Orca Book Publishers
- Published
- 2014
- Type
- Fiction