Apple and Rain
Sarah Crossan
Apple and Rain
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
a story to fix a broken heart
by Sarah Crossan
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 crisp rustle of pages fills the quiet room as Apple escapes into her poems, each word a soft whisper against the storm of her thoughts. Outside, the world feels heavy with secrets and silence, especially between her and her mother. In the stillness, Apple’s heart aches for a connection that feels just out of reach.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Apple and Rain explores the emotional challenges faced by a young girl dealing with a strained relationship with her estranged mother. Through poetry, Apple finds a way to express and process her feelings, making this book suitable for middle-grade readers navigating family complexities. Parents should note themes of dysfunctional family dynamics and emotional struggles are handled with sensitivity.
Why we rated Apple and Rain 12ME
Apple and Rain is written at a Level 7 reading level across 342 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Apple and Rain works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Apple and Rain as 12ME ("Moderate — 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, Apple and Rain explores family, sisters, mothers and daughters, and dysfunctional families — 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 family, sisters, mothers and daughters.
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
12ME — Moderate — 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
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781619636903
- Pages
- 342
- Publisher
- Bloomsbury Publishing USA
- Published
- 2015
- Type
- Fiction