Apple pie promises
Hillary Homzie
Apple pie promises
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Swirl Novel
by Hillary Homzie
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.
We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.
About This Book
What happens when your family suddenly changes everything you know? Lily is moving in with her dad, a new stepmom, and a stepsister named Hannah — but getting along isn’t as easy as apple pie. When friendly teasing turns into a full-on prank war, can Lily keep her family from falling apart?
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel explores the challenges of blended families through Lily, a girl whose parents are divorced and whose father has remarried. When Lily moves in with her dad and new stepfamily, she struggles to navigate her feelings and the difficult relationship with her stepsister. Appropriate for ages 9-12, the story sensitively handles themes of family change, identity, and sibling rivalry without intense emotional or physical content.
Why we rated Apple pie promises 11LE
Apple pie promises is written at a Level 6 reading level across 243 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Apple pie promises works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Apple pie promises 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, Apple pie promises explores family, coming of age, and friendship — 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, coming of age, 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
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
The truth about Twinkie Pie
Kat Yeh
The truth about Twinkie Pie
Kat Yeh
Apple pie
Anne Wellington
Apple pie
Anne Wellington
Apple-Pie ABC (HC)
McLoughlin McLoughlin Brothers
Apple-Pie ABC (HC)
McLoughlin McLoughlin Brothers
Skye Pie's Move Away Surprise
Honey Moore
Skye Pie's Move Away Surprise
Honey Moore
Pie
Sarah Weeks
Pie
Sarah Weeks
Pieface and Daphne
Lila Perl
Pieface and Daphne
Lila Perl
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781510739222
- Pages
- 243
- Publisher
- Sky Pony
- Published
- 2018
- Type
- Fiction