Apple
Eric Gansworth
Apple
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
(Skin to the Core)
by Eric Gansworth
The text is written at a 7th 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
The sharp scent of pine fills the air as Eric walks through his family's land, feeling the weight of stories both painful and proud. He listens to memories whispered by the wind—of boarding schools, family journeys, and the struggle to belong. These moments weave together, showing how identity can be both fragile and powerful.
Quick Assessment
Apple is a poignant middle-grade novel in verse and prose that explores the Native American experience through the eyes of Eric, a young Onondaga boy. It addresses complex themes such as cultural identity, the legacy of government boarding schools, and the challenges of belonging to multiple worlds. Suitable for ages 9-12, it offers an honest and heartfelt portrayal of resilience with some emotionally intense content related to family separation and cultural trauma.
Why we rated Apple 12IE
Apple is written at a Level 7 reading level across 339 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Apple works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Apple as 12IE ("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, social complexity, thematic difficulty — 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, Apple explores multicultural, family, coming of age, and identity & self-discovery — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers. Each of these themes is concrete enough to seed a real conversation, not just a moral lesson.
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 multicultural, family, coming of age.
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
12IE — 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
5/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781646140138
- Pages
- 339
- Publisher
- Levine Querido
- Published
- 2020
- Type
- Fiction