Between Friends
Sheila Garrigue
Between Friends
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Sheila Garrigue
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
The soft crunch of autumn leaves fills the air as Jill steps onto a new street, the unfamiliar smell of pine and fresh paint swirling around her. Everything feels different and strange, but then she meets someone who changes how she sees the world. Friendship blossoms in the most unexpected way, opening up new feelings and challenges.
Quick Assessment
This young adult novel explores themes of friendship and adjusting to change as Jill, a new girl in town, builds a meaningful relationship with a girl who has an intellectual disability. The story sensitively portrays challenges and growth, appropriate for readers aged 13 to 18. Parents should note the respectful depiction of disability and the emotional nuances of moving and forming new bonds.
Why we rated Between Friends 9LE
Between Friends is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 164 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Between Friends works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Between Friends as 9LE ("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, Between Friends explores friendship, moving, disability representation, coming of age, and family — 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 friendship, moving, disability representation.
Maybe not for
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LE — 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
- 9780590407731
- Pages
- 164
- Publisher
- Scholastic
- Published
- January 1987
- Type
- Fiction