But Then I Came Back
Estelle Laure
But Then I Came Back
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Estelle Laure
The text is written at a 7th 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
Have you ever wondered what happens when you’re stuck between two worlds? Eden just woke up from a coma, but she feels like she brought something mysterious back with her. Meanwhile, Joe visits his best friend Jaz every day, hoping she’ll wake up—what if Eden and Joe could actually reach her?
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel explores themes of friendship, family, and the mysteries surrounding coma patients through the eyes of Eden and Joe. It gently addresses concepts of life, death, and hope with a touch of magical realism, appropriate for ages 9-12. Parents should know the story includes emotional moments related to illness and loss but handles them with sensitivity.
Why we rated But Then I Came Back 12ME
But Then I Came Back is written at a Level 7 reading level across 320 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, But Then I Came Back works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate But Then I Came Back as 12ME ("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, 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, But Then I Came Back explores friendship, family, mystery, 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 friendship, family, mystery.
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
12ME — Moderate — 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
2/10A 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
- 9780544868229
- Pages
- 320
- Publisher
- HarperCollins
- Published
- 2017
- Type
- Fiction