What reading level is Been Here Along?

Been Here Along by Sandy Hall is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 700L). Recommended for Upper Grades readers (Ages 13+).

What age is Been Here Along appropriate for?

Been Here Along is recommended for Ages 13+. HootRating: 9ME (Moderate — Emotional).

What genre is Been Here Along?

Been Here Along is fiction — Fiction.

Does Been Here Along have any content warnings?

Been Here Along has a HootRating of 9ME (Moderate — Emotional). No specific content flags noted. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Been Here Along?

Been Here Along by Sandy Hall is 240 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

Been Here Along

Sandy Hall

Been Here Along

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

He's in Love with the Boy Next Door

by Sandy Hall

Reading Level 4-5 9ME Ages 13+ Balanced Read

The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.

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About This Book

Gideon’s heart races as he watches Kyle laugh with his girlfriend, but something inside him shifts—feelings he didn’t expect. Suddenly, everything Gideon thought he knew about their friendship feels different. Will he keep this secret or tell Kyle the truth?

Themes

LGBTQ+ Representation Friendship Coming of Age RomanceYoung Adult Fiction

Quick Assessment

This young adult novel explores themes of self-discovery and LGBTQ+ identity through the story of Gideon, a teenager grappling with unexpected feelings for his best friend. Appropriate for ages 13-18, it sensitively addresses the complexities of friendship, romantic feelings, and personal growth without explicit content.

Why we rated Been Here Along 9ME

Been Here Along is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 700L across 240 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Been Here Along works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate Been Here Along as 9ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. 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 mild intensity score.

Thematically, Been Here Along explores lgbtq+ representation, friendship, coming of age, romance, and young adult fiction — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.

Good fit for

✓ Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about lgbtq+ representation, friendship, coming of age.