What reading level is Between the notes?

Between the notes by Sharon Huss Roat is at a Level 3-4 reading level (Lexile 640L). Recommended for Lower Grades readers (Ages 5-8).

What age is Between the notes appropriate for?

Between the notes is recommended for Ages 5-8. HootRating: 8ME (Moderate — Emotional).

What genre is Between the notes?

Between the notes is fiction — Young Adult Fiction.

Does Between the notes have any content warnings?

Between the notes has a HootRating of 8ME (Moderate — Emotional). No specific content flags noted. On HootRated, every book is rated across four dimensions — emotional, physical, social, and thematic — to help parents make informed choices.

How many pages is Between the notes?

Between the notes by Sharon Huss Roat is 382 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated September 7, 2026

Between the notes

Sharon Huss Roat

Between the notes

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Sharon Huss Roat

Reading Level 3-4 8ME Ages 5-8 Heads Up

The text is written at a 3rd grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for younger children (ages 5–8), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.

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About This Book

Ivy has a secret—her family had to leave their big house and move to a new neighborhood where everything feels different. She's trying to keep it hidden from her friends and even a mysterious boy at school, but when trouble starts knocking, will her secrets stay safe? That’s only the beginning of what Ivy will discover about herself and others.

Themes

Family Friendship Coming of AgePoverty & HardshipSecretsDisability Representation

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel follows Ivy, a young girl navigating sudden economic hardship and adjusting to life in a less privileged neighborhood. Themes of poverty, identity, and honesty are explored as Ivy struggles with keeping secrets and building new friendships, including with her disabled brother. Suitable for readers around ages 8 and up, the story includes mild social challenges and emotional growth moments.

Why we rated Between the notes 8ME

Between the notes is written at a Level 3-4 reading level with a Lexile measure of 640L across 382 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 4.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Between the notes works for readers up to grade 5.5.

We rate Between the notes as 8ME ("Moderate — 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 — 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 the notes explores family, friendship, coming of age, poverty & hardship, and secrets — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.

Good fit for

✓ Children in the Ages 5-8 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 family, friendship, coming of age.

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.