Between here and forever

Name: Between here and forever
Author: Elizabeth Scott
ISBN: 9781416994848

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Elizabeth Scott

Reading Level 4-5 ME · Moderate · Emotional Ages 13+ Matched

The text is written at a 4th 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

This story proves that even when life turns dark, hope can shine through the cracks. A sister’s secret and a mysterious coma challenge everything you thought you knew about family and courage. What happens when the past won’t stay buried? That’s the heart of this unforgettable journey.

Themes

Coming of AgeSelf-PerceptionSistersSecretsFamily

Quick Assessment

This dark coming-of-age novel follows sisters whose lives are upended by a coma, buried family secrets, and a first romance. Parents should know it explores self-perception, emotional family strain, and heavy subject matter, with romantic content that is part of the story rather than its focus.

Why we rated Between here and forever ME (Moderate)

Between here and forever is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 250 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 here and forever 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 here and forever explores coming of age, self-perception, sisters, secrets, 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.
✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
✓ Kids drawn to stories about coming of age, self-perception, sisters.

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

Gentle

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?