Anyone but you
Kim Askew
Anyone but you
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
The Third in the Twisted Lit Series
by Kim Askew
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
What happens when two kids from families who have been enemies for generations discover a secret that could change everything? Gigi is tired of the feud that has hurt her family's pizza business, but when she meets Roman, the son of their rivals, everything feels different. Can their friendship survive the storm of family hatred, or is it doomed from the start?
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel explores themes of family rivalry, love, and forgiveness through a modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet set in Chicago. It addresses complex emotions like loyalty and prejudice in an age-appropriate way for readers ages 9-12. Parents should note the story includes mild references to family conflict and some instances of vandalism but handles these topics sensitively.
Why we rated Anyone but you 11LE
Anyone but you is written at a Level 6 reading level across 222 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Anyone but you works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Anyone but you 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, Anyone but you explores romance, family, friendship, coming of age, and multicultural — 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 romance, family, friendship.
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
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
- 9781440570018
- Pages
- 222
- Publisher
- Simon Pulse
- Published
- 2014
- Type
- Fiction