Being Here
Barry Jonsberg
Being Here
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Barry Jonsberg
The text is written at a 6th 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
Carly flips open her notebook, ready to ask Leah about the old farm stories, but Leah’s eyes sparkle with a secret that’s been hidden for decades. As the afternoon sun dips, the past begins to unravel — and suddenly, Carly’s history project feels a lot more personal. What will Leah reveal next?
Quick Assessment
This young adult novel follows sixteen-year-old Carly as she interviews ninety-three-year-old Leah for a local history project, uncovering stories of isolation, friendship, and resilience from Leah’s youth on a remote farm. Suitable for teenagers, the book explores themes of intergenerational friendship and personal discovery with a gentle tone and no strong content warnings.
Why we rated Being Here 11LE
Being Here is written at a Level 6 reading level across 258 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Being Here works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Being Here 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.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Loneliness, Friendship.
Thematically, Being Here explores friendship, coming of age, family, and historical — 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 friendship, coming of age, family.
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.
Content Flags
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
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781742373850
- Pages
- 258
- Publisher
- Allen & Unwin Academic
- Published
- 2012
- Type
- Fiction