What reading level is Boys like you?

Boys like you by Juliana Stone is at a Level 4-5 reading level (Lexile 710L). Recommended for Middle Grades readers (Ages 9-12).

What age is Boys like you appropriate for?

Boys like you is recommended for Ages 9-12. HootRating: 9ME (Moderate — Emotional).

What genre is Boys like you?

Boys like you is fiction — Juvenile Fiction.

Does Boys like you have any content warnings?

Boys like you has a HootRating of 9ME (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 Boys like you?

Boys like you by Juliana Stone is 274 pages.

Reviewed by HootRated editorial · Last updated May 18, 2026

Boys like you

Juliana Stone

Boys like you

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Juliana Stone

Reading Level 4-5 9ME Ages 9-12 Matched

The text is written at a 4th 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

The warm smell of fresh biscuits fills the old kitchen as Monroe steps into her grandma’s cozy bed and breakfast. Outside, the summer sun blazes down, but inside, the ache in Monroe’s heart feels colder than ever. Can time, family, and a little love heal what’s been broken?

Themes

GriefFamilyLoveComing of Age

Quick Assessment

This middle-grade novel explores themes of grief, family, and guilt as Monroe Blackwell spends a summer with her grandmother in Louisiana following a painful family event. Suitable for ages 9-12, it sensitively addresses emotional struggles and the process of healing in a gentle, age-appropriate way. Parents should be aware that grief and family tension are central to the story but are portrayed with warmth and hope.

Why we rated Boys like you 9ME

Boys like you is written at a Level 4-5 reading level with a Lexile measure of 710L across 274 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Boys like you works for readers up to grade 6.5.

We rate Boys like you as 9ME ("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 — 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, Boys like you explores grief, family, love, and coming of age — 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 grief, family, love.

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.