Before, After, and Somebody In Between
Jeannine Garsee
Before, After, and Somebody In Between
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Jeannine Garsee
The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes.
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About This Book
What if your first day at a new school felt like stepping into a storm? Martha faces a mean bully who won’t let her forget she’s an outsider, while at home, everything feels like it’s falling apart. Can she hold onto her dreams when the world around her seems so unfair?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This young adult novel follows Martha, a tenth grader dealing with bullying at school and family struggles at home, including her mother's recovery from addiction and unstable living conditions. It explores heavy themes such as substance abuse, social hardship, and the challenges of pursuing personal dreams amidst adversity. Recommended for teens 13 and older, it offers a realistic portrayal of hardship balanced with moments of hope.
Why we rated Before, After, and Somebody In Between 12IE
Before, After, and Somebody In Between is written at a Level 7 reading level across 352 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Before, After, and Somebody In Between works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Before, After, and Somebody In Between as 12IE ("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: Bullying, Substance Use, Family Instability.
Thematically, Before, After, and Somebody In Between explores family, bullying, substance abuse, coming of age, and social issues — 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.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about family, bullying, substance abuse.
Maybe not for
- ! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
- ! Children younger than 13+ — the content intensity is above what most younger kids can process comfortably.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12IE — 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
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781599900223
- Pages
- 352
- Publisher
- Bloomsbury USA Childrens
- Published
- June 26, 2007
- Type
- Fiction