Between

Name: Between
Author: Jessica Warman
ISBN: 9780802721822

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Jessica Warman

Reading Level 3-4 ME · Moderate · Emotional Ages 13+ Heads Up

The text is written at a 3rd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes. Its HootRating code, ME, means moderate content, mostly emotional.

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About This Book

Seven people set sail on a mysterious night, but when morning comes, one is missing. This isn't just any story—it's a puzzle wrapped in a family secret that will keep you guessing. Why did someone disappear, and what will happen next?

Themes

Family Coming of Age MysteryFamily Problems

Quick Assessment

Liz wakes on her family's yacht after her eighteenth birthday party to find that a guest is missing, and her search for the truth exposes cracks in her friendships, her family, and her own image of herself. The story is a mystery with a strong emotional core, touching on death, grief, and family pressure, and it includes romantic content and references to a party atmosphere that may prompt discussion with older teens. It is best suited to mature young adult readers who can handle a heavy, morally complicated plot.

Why we rated Between ME (Moderate)

Between is written at a Level 3-4 reading level across 454 pages. Upper Grades (Ages 13+) is the typical interest range for this book — readers in that age band have the maturity and attention span suited to the story, separate from whether they can decode the words.

We rate Between as ME (Moderate, mostly 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 — 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, Between explores family, coming of age, mystery, and family problems — 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.
✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about family, coming of age, mystery.

Maybe not for

! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.

For Parents

Content Intensity

ME · Moderate · Emotional

Emotional

Moderate ←

Physical

Gentle

Social

Mild

Thematic

Mild

Reading the HootRating code: the first letter is the content intensity (C = Gentle · L = Mild · M = Moderate · I = Intense · V = Very Intense); the second, when there is one, is the kind of content that drives it (E = Emotional · P = Physical · S = Social · T = Thematic). Reading level and age range are rated separately. How we rate

Real stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.

Data confidence: high

Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?