Call Me May
Becky Feldmann
Call Me May
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Becky Feldmann
The text is written at a 6th 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.
We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.
About This Book
What if a riddle could unlock not just a town’s secrets but your own heart? Eleven-year-old Mabel, who was born without thumbs, faces a world turned upside down when her dad dies during the Great Depression. As she follows the clues he left behind, will she find hope or heartbreak waiting at the end?
Themes
Quick Assessment
Set during the Great Depression in 1932 Bend, Oregon, this middle-grade novel follows eleven-year-old Mabel, who was born without thumbs and copes with the loss of her father. The story explores themes of grief, faith, and resilience through an engaging riddle-driven adventure suitable for ages 9-12. Parents should note the book addresses loss and religious faith in a sensitive manner appropriate for this age group.
Why we rated Call Me May 11ME
Call Me May is written at a Level 6 reading level across 264 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 7.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Call Me May works for readers up to grade 8.0.
We rate Call Me May as 11ME ("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, Call Me May explores faith, grief, friendship, adventure, and historical — 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.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about faith, grief, friendship.
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
11ME — 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
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
Calling
L. E. Bounds
Calling
L. E. Bounds
Call It What You Want
Brigid Kemmerer
Call It What You Want
Brigid Kemmerer
Missing May
Jean Little
Missing May
Jean Little
Calling Maggie May
Anonymous
Calling Maggie May
Anonymous
Callie's castle
Ruth Park
Callie's castle
Ruth Park
Callie and the Stepmother
Susan A. Meyers
Callie and the Stepmother
Susan A. Meyers
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9798989180950
- Pages
- 264
- Publisher
- Mortar & Pestle Books
- Published
- 2025
- Type
- Fiction