Being a girl
Hayley Long
Being a girl
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Hayley Long
Illustrated by Correll, Gemma, illustrator
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.
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About This Book
What if growing up was like navigating a maze full of surprises? Spots pop up where you least expect them, friendships twist and turn, and your feelings get all tangled up. Can you figure out how to handle it all while trying to be yourself?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade fiction book offers an honest and humorous look at the challenges girls face during puberty, including friendships, body changes, and early relationships. Written by YA author and teacher Hayley Long, it provides practical life guidance with relatable scenarios and witty illustrations. Suitable for ages 9-12, it addresses common concerns in a straightforward, age-appropriate manner.
Why we rated Being a girl 11LE
Being a girl is written at a Level 6 reading level across 224 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Being a girl works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Being a girl 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, Being a girl explores coming of age, friendship, family, and life skills guides — 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.
- ✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.
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
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781471403903
- Pages
- 224
- Publisher
- Hot Key Books
- Published
- 2015
- Type
- Nonfiction