Between lovers
Eric Jerome Dickey
Between lovers
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Eric Jerome Dickey
The text is written at a 8th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
Here’s a secret: Nicole's heart isn’t just tied to one person—it’s caught between two. One is a man who's loved her for years, the other, a fierce woman who's changed everything. But that’s only the beginning.
Quick Assessment
This story explores complex relationships and emotional struggles centered around love, jealousy, and identity. It thoughtfully addresses themes of interracial romance, LGBTQ+ relationships, and personal growth, suitable for mature middle-grade readers around ages 9 to 12. Parents should note the book deals with nuanced emotional and social dynamics that may prompt meaningful discussions.
Why we rated Between lovers 12IE
Between lovers is written at a Level 8 reading level across 406 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 9.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Between lovers works for readers up to grade 10.0.
We rate Between lovers as 12IE ("Intense — 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, social complexity, thematic difficulty — 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 lovers explores romance, friendship, family, lgbtq+ representation, and multicultural — 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.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about romance, friendship, family.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12IE — Intense — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" 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
- 1587241722
- Pages
- 406
- Publisher
- Wheeler Publishing, Incorporated
- Published
- 2002
- Type
- Fiction