What reading level is And we stay?

And we stay by Jenny Hubbard is at a Level 5-6 reading level (Lexile 810L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is And we stay appropriate for?

And we stay is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 10IE (Intense — Emotional). Content flags: Suicide, Grief.

What genre is And we stay?

And we stay is fiction — Young Adult Fiction.

Does And we stay have any content warnings?

And we stay has a HootRating of 10IE (Intense — Emotional). Content flags include: Suicide, Grief. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is And we stay?

And we stay by Jenny Hubbard is 224 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

And we stay

Jenny Hubbard

And we stay

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Jenny Hubbard

Reading Level 5-6 10IE Ages 9-12 Heads Up

The text is written at a 5th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes.

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About This Book

What happens when a single moment changes everything? Emily faces a world shadowed by loss and confusion, but then, in a quiet boarding school, a mysterious visitor from the past appears. Can Emily find light in the darkness, or will the shadows hold her forever?

Themes

Interpersonal RelationsSuicideBoarding SchoolsHigh SchoolsPoetryMental HealthFriendshipHealing

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel explores the aftermath of a traumatic event involving a school shooting and suicide, focusing on Emily, a young girl grappling with guilt and grief. Set partially in a boarding school, the story incorporates poetry and prose, blending emotional depth with a touch of the supernatural through the presence of Emily Dickinson's ghost. Suitable for ages 9-12, parents should be aware of themes involving suicide, mental health struggles, and grief.

Why we rated And we stay 10IE

And we stay is written at a Level 5-6 reading level with a Lexile measure of 810L across 224 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 6.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, And we stay works for readers up to grade 7.5.

We rate And we stay as 10IE ("Intense — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Intense" range — intense conflict including peril, frightening scenes, or emotionally heavy themes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, physical peril, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.

Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Suicide, Grief.

Thematically, And we stay explores interpersonal relations, suicide, boarding schools, high schools, and poetry — 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 interpersonal relations, suicide, boarding schools.

Maybe not for

! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
! Children younger than 9-12 — the content intensity is above what most younger kids can process comfortably.
! Children currently coping with grief — the themes may hit close to home.
! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.