Away We Go
Emil Ostrovski
Away We Go
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Emil Ostrovski
The text is written at a 4th 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
Westing High is unlike any other school—only kids who are really sick get to go there. Imagine having to figure out what life means when you might not have much time left. This story shows how even in the hardest times, friendship and first love can shine bright.
Themes
Quick Assessment
Away We Go explores the lives of students attending a unique high school where all have a serious illness with limited time to live. The book addresses themes of illness, death, identity, and first love, including LGBTQ+ representation, with honesty and humor. Recommended for ages 9-12, it handles mature topics sensitively but may require parental guidance for younger readers due to emotional depth.
Why we rated Away We Go 9IE
Away We Go is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 198 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Away We Go works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Away We Go as 9IE ("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, social complexity, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Death, Illness, LGBTQ+ Themes.
Thematically, Away We Go explores coming of age, friendship, family, lgbtq+ representation, and illness & mortality — 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 coming of age, friendship, family.
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.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9IE — Intense — EmotionalHeavy themes explored in depth. War, death, abuse addressed directly.
Content Flags
Was our "Intense" 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
- 9780062238573
- Pages
- 198
- Publisher
- HarperCollins
- Published
- 2016
- Type
- Fiction