Back That Thing
Stephanie Perry Moore
Back That Thing
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Stephanie Perry Moore
The text is written at a 4th 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
Some girls have been labeled with a name they never asked for, but they're not going to let that define them. The 'Swoop List' girls face tough truths about their pasts and choose to rewrite their stories. What they decide next could change everything—for themselves and each other.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel explores themes of social labels, peer judgment, and personal growth as a group of girls confront the impact of a harmful list circulating at their school. Suitable for ages 9-12, it encourages conversations about empathy, self-respect, and the importance of supporting friends through challenging social dynamics. Parents should be aware it addresses sensitive topics around reputation and interpersonal conflict in a school setting.
Why we rated Back That Thing 9ME
Back That Thing is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 112 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Back That Thing works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Back That Thing as 9ME ("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, social complexity — 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, Back That Thing explores interpersonal relations, friendship, family, coming of age, and schools — 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 interpersonal relations, friendship, family.
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
9ME — 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
5/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781467778916
- Pages
- 112
- Publisher
- Darby Creek
- Published
- 2015
- Type
- Fiction